Show me the money: Censorship + financial independence (The Backstory S1E2)

Show me the money: Censorship + financial independence (The Backstory S1E2)

Author: WAN-IFRA, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers March 1, 2018 Duration: 24:53
How do you run an independent media organisation in a country where the government imposes censorship rules? How do you support a successful media company without folding to pressure from your funders or your sponsors? The internet has exploded traditional media funding models. And yet, in some parts of the world, legacy media - even print! - remain a strong source of independent information. How are these companies surviving? In this episode of The Backstory, WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Director, Andrew Heslop, meets some of them to find out: - Sonny Swe, founder and CEO of Black Knight Media Group and publisher of Frontier Myanmar magazine (https://frontiermyanmar.net/en) - Harlan Mandel, CEO of the Media Development Investment Fund, which invests in independent media organisations around the world (https://www.mdif.org/) - Fatemah Farag, founder and CEO of Welad ElBalad Media, a network of local newspapers in Egypt (https://www.weladelbalad.com) and MENA Director for WAN-IFRA’s Women in News Programme The Backstory production team includes Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode. Music in this episode by Broke for Free (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_01_Night_Owl) and Lee Rosevere (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Xeno/Lee_Rosevere_-_Xeno_-_05_Vertex)

Ever wonder what really happens before a story hits the front page or goes live online? The Backstory: A media freedom podcast, from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, pulls back the curtain on the entire process. It’s not just for journalists and editors, but for anyone curious about the mechanics and the human effort behind the news we consume. Each episode digs into the real-world conditions that shape reporting, moving from abstract ideals to the gritty, daily realities faced by media professionals across the globe. In its current season, the conversation focuses sharply on the pressing state of press freedom, with voices from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the MENA region providing firsthand accounts. These aren’t theoretical discussions; they are grounded in the challenges of operating in restrictive environments, fighting misinformation, and maintaining integrity under pressure. The dialogue also turns toward constructive paths forward, examining how the industry is adapting and what solutions are emerging. A significant thread running through these talks is the impact of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and how they are fundamentally altering the future landscape of journalism. By tuning into this podcast, you’ll hear unvarnished perspectives on both the threats to a free press and the innovative resilience defining its next chapter.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

The Backstory: A media freedom podcast
Podcast Episodes
Dying to be a journalist (The Backstory S1E1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
We start with the basics: the threats facing journalists worldwide. Too often, journalists put safety aside to “get” the story; editors don’t anticipate the problems that their reporters or their newsrooms can face. How…