The Media Viability Manifesto (MVM) initiative is gaining momentum at a time when different stakeholders invested in media viability are looking to unite their efforts to confront a multifaceted crisis in journalism. Traditional media business models are collapsing, and donor funding is rarely long term. Without sustainable resources, public interest media simply cannot deliver and sustain their operations.

To improve the sustainability of independent public interest media, actors in the field of media viability have come together in a pioneering multi-stakeholder initiative. Through a collaborative multi-stage process involving practitioners in the field, the MVM seeks to foster conceptual clarity, strategic collaboration, and coordinated implementation within the media development community.

This strategy meeting, held on the sidelines of the International Journalism Festival, provides an opportunity for the 13+ organizations engaged in the initiative (DW Akademie, International Media Support, Free Press Unlimited, UNESCO, Global Forum for Media Development, BBC Media Action, Fondation Hirondelle, Center for International Media Assistance, Sembra Media, Internews, FT Strategies, IREX, ICFJ) to reflect on the collaboration thus far, and to look ahead by setting goals and planning the next steps for joint action to safeguard quality journalism.

This strategy meeting is by invitation only, but anyone interested in joining is welcome to get in touch.

Venue: Hotel Sangallo, Via Luigi Masi 9, Perugia.

Contact info: laura.moore@dw.com or elena.koehler@dw.com.

Organized by DW Akademie and International Media Support on behalf of the Media Viability Manifesto initiative.