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About Internews

Internews is an international media development organization based in California.

View a 5 minute video about Internews' mission and work:

Our Mission

Information is the power that can change the world. We are in the midst of a revolution in human communication that is profoundly reshaping our future. Yet, for nearly half the planet, the promise of this revolution has not been fulfilled.

Internews is an international media development organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.

Our Vision for the Future

We envision a world where everyone can communicate freely with anyone, anywhere, and exchange the news and information they need to shape the future of their communities and the world.

Our Values

The Power of Information: We believe that free flowing, locally produced and editorially independent news and information has the power to transform lives and enrich communities.  

Journalistic Integrity: We uphold the values of journalistic independence and professional ethics in our work, in our organization and with our funders. Consistent with these values, Internews advocates for the importance of quality, local, independent media and the right to access information, but does not take a position on other policy issues. We reject any funding or support that would compromise our organizational independence.

Innovation: Working in some of the most difficult environments around the world, Internews pioneers applications of new technologies for development and designs and implements innovative solutions to programmatic and operational challenges.

Persistence: We recognize that social progress involves a commitment to long-term engagement, flexibility in approach, and persistent encouragement of partners and programs.

Activities

Formed in 1982, Internews Network is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in California. It has worked in over 70 countries, and currently has offices in 35 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Internews Network is a founding member of Internews International, an umbrella organization, based in Paris, made up of 12 media development NGOs.

Since inception, Internews has worked with 5,500 radio and television stations and print publications. Internews activities include:

  • Training. Internews has trained over 70,000 people1 in journalism, production and management skills, including over 10,000 in 2007 alone. For more advanced students, Internews offers training in topics such as computer graphics, media law, and investigative journalism. more
  • Production. To strengthen the independent media sector, Internews works with local media professionals to produce original, high-quality programming. Last year this came to 6,200 hours of television and radio programming, with a combined potential audience of nearly 300 million radio listeners and nearly 200 million TV viewers. more
  • Media infrastructure. Internews provides a broad range of infrastructure support to enable independent media to provide vital news and information, including providing journalists and stations with production equipment, creating production studios, and building radio stations from the ground up. more
  • Media law and policy. To allow independent media to fulfill their “watchdog” function, Internews has worked for the adoption and implementation of fair media laws and policies in 21 countries. more

As part of its work fostering independent media and access to information, Internews has developed special global programs in health journalism, environmental journalism, humanitarian media, information and communications technology, and governance and transparency.

1 Training figure includes each participant at each Internews training. Some individuals participate in multiple trainings.

Donors

Internews Network is primarily supported by grants. Funders have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Coxe- Otus Fund, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the GE Foundation, the Gregory C. Carr Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Science Foundation, the Open Society Institute, the United Nations Foundation, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the World Bank, and many others.

The organization has a budget of $26 million for 2007.

Financial Information

Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax

More Information

Internews Brochure 2007 – Screen Quality – 200 KB(PDF)

Internews Brochure 2007 – Print Quality - 5.0 MB(PDF)

Annual Report

"(Internews') success in promoting democracy, pluralism, conflict resolution and the growth of active, well-informed civil societies in emerging democracies is undeniable."

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
7/28/96

"Internews is an internationally respected organization with a proven track record of supporting independent media."

— Krishna Kumar, "Promoting Independent Media: Strategies for Democracy Assistance," 2006