New York City, September 26, 2024 – Today Internews officially released the Media Viability Accelerator (MVA) to support local news outlets worldwide.
The Media Viability Accelerator is a free, web-based platform that enables independent news outlets globally to measure business success, benchmark their performance, and access an ecosystem of partners and solutions. It is designed to support independent media in becoming more financially sustainable. The MVA is made possible through a unique public-private partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Microsoft’s Democracy Forward initiative, as well as support and engagement from a growing list of partners. The ultimate goal of the MVA is to bolster media sustainability and resilience globally.
Around the world, media business models have been upended by market fragmentation and rapid changes in how information is shared. Amid these obstacles, independent media is also challenged by rising authoritarianism, with many countries currently experiencing a decline in press freedom. Over the next two years, the MVA intends to counter these trends by bolstering over 2,000 media outlets and tens of thousands of journalists, reaching audiences of hundreds of millions of people. The platform will help to ensure citizens are informed and able to participate in vibrant democracies around the globe.
Internews is now calling on as many organizations as possible to join the new platform. Addressing the event attendees, Internews’ President and CEO Jeanne Bourgault said: “The MVA will enable thousands of news organizations to make better business decisions and, in turn, counter today’s much dreaded “media extinction event.” Over 260 media outlets have already benefited from the pilot version, and we couldn’t be more excited to release this platform to the public.”
Ginny Badanes, General Manager at Microsoft’s Democracy Forward initiative, said: “At Microsoft, we believe that protecting journalism is a critical component of the democratic process and we are working to preserve access to trusted journalism through our Democracy Forward initiative. Making the Media Viability Accelerator generally available with Internews and USAID, supports local independent journalists around the world as they inform and educate citizens, expose injustice and wrongdoing and encourage civic engagement.”
Bourgault continued: “Media business models have changed in recent decades as technology platforms capture most of the world’s advertising and subscription revenues. Simply put, fact-based, independent media that holds power to account is being outcompeted. For independent media to survive, many more – including major brands, advertising agencies, technology providers, and investors – must join this initiative. We hope new partners will sign on to the MVA and become global frontrunners in saving independent media and democracies, all while doing good business.”
To date, 260 news outlets have signed up to the platform in the soft launch stage. News outlets interested in joining the platform can visit www.mva.net to learn more.
Financial and technical support for building the MVA was generously provided by USAID and Microsoft, respectively. The MVA is supported by a coalition of leading media development organizations including Associação de Jornalismo Digital, the Association of Independent Publishers, the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, the European Journalism Centre, Free Press Unlimited, Global Forum for Media Development, the International Fund for Public Interest Media, IREX, the Media and Journalism Research Center, the National Endowment for Democracy, Panos Institute Southern Africa, SembraMedia, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and led by Internews.
For further information, please contact [email protected].
About the Media Viability Accelerator (MVA)
For more information about the MVA and how to get involved, please visit: www.mva.net
About Internews
Internews is a nonprofit that supports independent media in 100 countries. Internews trains journalists and digital rights practitioners, tackles disinformation, and offers business expertise to help media outlets thrive financially. For 40 years, it has helped partners reach millions of people with trustworthy information that saves lives, improves livelihoods, and holds institutions accountable. Find out more at internews.org