Transformational Media Fund

Transformational Media Fund

Funder: Mediators Foundation (housed within)

Contact: kspencerhome@gmail.com

Project Director: Kim Spencer

Overview

The Transformational Media Fund (TMF) is a media development project providing necessary seed funding for bridge-building media projects. It focuses on funding important media projects that shed light on current global crises and seek collaborative solutions.

Purpose

Provide timely seed funding for media projects that:
• Deal with urgent issues around the world
• Promote better understanding of people on both sides of seemingly intractable conflicts
• Help projects reach an international audience
• Address global challenges with fast-responding teams
• Work through cracks in media monoliths
• Bring new transformative programs to terrestrial and satellite TV, YouTube, and online platforms

Focus Areas

• Bridge-building media projects
• Global crises and urgent worldwide issues
• Conflict resolution and understanding opposing perspectives
• Collaborative solutions to intractable conflicts
• Environmental issues
• Human rights
• Global affairs
• Middle East news and perspectives

Target Audience

• Broad audiences in the West affected by critical global issues
• Western audiences supporting policies that contribute to conflicts
• International audiences
• Millions of people affected by critical global issues

Geographic Scope

Global focus. Project director has relationships with broadcasters in:
• United States
• Mexico
• France
• Eastern Europe
• India
• And elsewhere internationally

Distribution Channels

• Terrestrial and satellite TV
• YouTube
• Online platforms
• International broadcast networks

Leadership

Kim Spencer (Project Director) - Producer of 70+ documentaries and television news specials. Pioneer of satellite 'spacebridges' between US and Soviet Union (1980s) for Track II citizen diplomacy. Coordinating producer at ABC News "Prime Time Live." Co-created Vis à Vis interactive format for European and North American broadcasters. Produced DocsPlus human rights series for NDTV India. Co-founder of Link TV (independent satellite network for global affairs, 1999, served as president and senior programming executive for 23 years). Helped create Peabody Award-winning "Mosaic: World News from the Middle East" and weekly series "Earth Focus" (longest-running environmental program on American television). Senior producer of Emmy Award-winning Global Mosaic documentary series.