Laura Efurd Writes on Media Policy and the Next Presidency

Eugene Chan

I point to an article by Laura Efurd on media policy and the next Presidency over at Grantmaker’s for Film and Electronic Media’s website entitled Media Policy And The Next Presidency: The Time Is Now.

Here are her suggestions for funders:

  • Support educational and informational activities related to media and technology policy issues throughout the electoral process, such as education forums.
  • Fund research to gather more robust data on broadband access, media ownership, and the digital divide. Also, make foundation-supported research available to the new administration.
  • Support efforts to place educational materials, policy experts, and lists of potential appointment candidates in front of key people in the new administration.
  • Help build an infrastructure between national, regional and local advocates to work together to advance an agenda. This could include activities such as a national media policy institute in D.C. for local advocates to learn about and participate in advocacy at the federal level.
  • Invest in social media technology so that policy advocates can take full advantage of the innovative new ways to engage and mobilize supporters.
  • Provide operating support for the day-to-day work of local, regional and national media and technology non-profits. This support must take place both in preparation for, and throughout the course of, a new administration.

What do you think? What else can or should funders do regarding supporting media policy in the public interest?