Summary

During the session, we explored key questions, including:

• How exposed were media and media support organisations in different regions to US funding cuts, and what lessons can we draw?

• How diversified are partners’ revenue sources – did recent funding reductions encourage greater diversification?

• What are the evolving priorities of different donors (state, philanthropy, private) in today’s geopolitical context?

• Are traditional arguments around quality journalism’s role in human rights, democracy, and development still relevant, and how do new arguments around national security and defense fit in?

We also shared the Toolkit produced by GFMD and figures from DW Akademie’s State of Media Development Report to support advocacy for journalism and media development.

We will use the main points from this meeting in upcoming discussions on funding, including at the sessions at the ARIJ Annual Forum (5–7 December 2025) and the FoME Symposium 2025 (9–10 December 2025), as well as in planning next year’s State of Media Development Report.