# Sustainability & viability ## [Podcast Initiatives in the Arab World (March, 2022)](https://maharatfoundation.org/en/podcast_initiatives_arabworld) #### Maharat Foundation- HUSSEIN AL-SHERIF, LAURA RAHAL, BILAL YASSINE, GEORGES SADAKA {% embed url="" %} This study *"sheds light on a number of topics that revolve around podcasts: founders of podcast initiatives, the type of journalism presented, the audience of Arab podcasts, business models (funding) adopted in the initiatives, issues covered, success stories, challenges they face, and recognition of the extent of interest in podcasts, in media faculties in the Arab world as a new form of digital media."* {% hint style="info" %} The study is available in English [here](https://maharatfoundation.org/media/2112/podcast-study-22-en.pdf) and in Arabic [here](https://maharatfoundation.org/media/2106/podcast-study-ar.pdf). {% endhint %} ## [The School of Splice is all you need to build a viable media business today. And it's all audio. (2021) ](https://splicemedia.com/school-of-splice) #### Meta Journalism Project, Splice Media *"School of Splice gives you knowledge as a learning program, network because it's community-led, and funding with grants to help you prototype."* It's targeted towards *"early-stage media startup founder, a media professional, or an early-stage newsroom"* seeking to understand and create a monetisation strategy. The lessons include how to think about building a viable media business, how to build an audience, and how to manage workflow and operations. ## [Janine Warner and Jazmín Acuña on fast-tracking media growth in Latin America (Nov. 2021) ](https://www.journalism.co.uk/podcast/janine-warner-and-jazm%C3%ADn-acu%C3%B1a-on-fast-tracking-media-growth-in-latin-america/s399/a879420/) #### Journalism.co.uk - JACOB GRANGER The media accelerator Velocidad launched in 2019 to help news startups grow and thrive. We look at its impact in a region where press freedom is under constant threat. {% embed url="" %} ## [**Where is the money? Financing African media (8 Oct. 2021)**](https://wan-ifra.org/2021/10/podcast-where-is-the-money-financing-african-media/) #### World Association of News Publishers ## [Media Development Investment Fund Deputy CEO Mohamed Nanabhay on investing in sustainable media businesses (June 2021)](https://voices.media/media-development-investment-fund-deputy-ceo-mohamed-nanabhay-investing-sustainable-media-businesses/) #### Media Voices {% embed url="" %} Mohamed Nanabhay, Deputy CEO of the Media Development Investment Fund talks about how the MDIF decides which businesses to invest in, and why he thinks the pandemic has provided an opportunity for independent media to thrive.