ProgramsFree-flowing information and a diversity of perspectives are two of the most important resources of a pluralistic, just, and democratic society. With both of these qualities in short supply in the United States today, it can be difficult to find solid information and a fair hearing about many of the issues of concern to the Open Society Institute.
It is not enough to support reform of the U.S. criminal justice system and immigration policy, or to support efforts to roll back and expose incursions into Americans' civil liberties and threats to the independence of the judiciary or government scientists—or the many other issues on which OSI focuses. Ample evidence demonstrates that such efforts cannot succeed if corporate media continue to consolidate; if investigative journalism continues to get squeezed out of the mass media; if noncommercial media continue to wither from lack of resources and influence; if new technologies continue to be co-opted and controlled by commercial interests more concerned with the bottom line than with the public's need for information; and if propaganda dressed up as journalism goes unchecked by independent monitors of the media.
Thus for the last several years OSI has funded media policy reform—both to defend and expand a bedrock element of an open society and to improve the media environment in which OSI's core issues and grantees are covered or, much to our disappointment, more often poorly understood or simply overlooked.
One of OSI's overarching goals is to ensure that the public interest is vigorously represented in policy arenas that determine the structure of the U.S. media system. OSI grantmaking also aims to nurture the collaborative spirit that has developed among media policy organizations; solidify the policy wins (currently at risk); and fight back against the industry pressure to over-commercialize every aspect of the media.
Because the organizations concerned with media policy reform are part of a historically fractured field that mirrors the complexities of the various technologies and regulatory structures, OSI's funding focuses on strengthening key organizations and their connections to each other. Over the past few years, in concert with colleague funders, OSI grants have been designed to solidify organizations into a field of mutually supporting, well-coordinated groups that can reliably connect to diverse constituencies. Naturally, OSI grantees have also focused on urgent policy battles related to FCC rules on media ownership, the impact of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (which launched major deregulation and consolidation of telephone, cable and media companies in the last decade), reviews of huge telecommunications company mergers, equitable distribution of fast Internet connections, attacks on public broadcasting, and the openness and transparency of the Internet that has made it such a powerful force for economic and social good.
To accomplish these goals, OSI works cooperatively with funders that share our interest in the field—as well as our sense of the current risks and opportunities. OSI is also helping social justice organizations and funders see that working to improve the media would improve the chances that their primary issues get a fair hearing.
For Further Information
While OSI does not accept unsolicited proposals for media policy grants, there is one remaining cycle in 2007 in which we will consider letters of inquiry. Please refer to the Media Policy grant guidelines. OSI encourages prospective applicants to read about the work of current grantees and to consider collaborative opportunities.
