At an event in November, Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, cited Internews’ Balkan Media Assistance Program as an example of the importance of media sustainability in supporting democracy.

“You can’t just think about content and even the regulatory environment, which we push on either through providing technical assistance or through policy engagement,” she said, noting the necessity of helping media outlets stay financially sustainable.

“USAID in the Balkans has in recent years helped 10 media partners in five countries increase their aggregate audience reach by 65 percent. Increasing their organizational capacities by about 15 percent, increasing their advertising revenue by 1,000 percent,” said Power, referring to Internews’ project.

Power was speaking at Foreign Policy’s Independent Media & the Advancement of Democracy virtual dialogue that took place on November 30, 2021. The event focused on mobilizing international action to save journalism and why democracies worldwide depend on it.