Media & Philanthropy Initiative (IMP)

Gilles Marchand

Objective of this initiative: analyse the relationship between media and the common good and support the philanthropic or civic engagement in this area.

As the example of the United States has illustrated, the crisis of democracy is linked to that of the media. When they break with an ideal of neutrality, objectivity and the dissemination of reliable and verified information, they contribute to a destabilization of democracy, which is based on public opinion and therefore, ultimately, on the quality and independence of the information available. However, the media are facing a funding crisis, as public and commercial sources are becoming rarer, putting the viability of these models to the test. In this context, the intervention by the foundation sector, through funding, but also dedicated structures, governance models and organizations, can contribute to supporting independent media, which in turn is likely to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of democratic systems. Independent media allow the free formation of opinion, essential to the exercise of rights by citizens. Independent media must provide balanced and verified information, guarantee a space for constructive public debate and production rooted in a cultural reality.

However, this intervention can only be legitimate to the extent that the philanthropic intervention does not serve, directly or indirectly, private interests (commercial or ideological). This is the reason why the primary issue for the establishment of criteria to develop what Pierre Rosanvallon called a “legitimacy of exercise”, complementary, rather than competing with the procedural legitimacy of the election or the vote, is to establish criteria to contribute to the common good of philanthropic intervention directed to the media sector.

Taking these observations and goals into account, the Media & Philanthropy Initiative (IMP) developed at the Geneva Centre for Philanthropy aims to integrate academic and professional expertise and structure an international network (in collaboration with HEC Montréal) around an analysis of the criteria of the common good as applied to the media. The initiative will also map financing and governance models.

Publications:

Towards a charter of philanthropic engagement in the media sector, Gilles Marchand, Dre Manon Plegat, François Besancon, Claude-Yves Robin, September 2025 - available in French, German and English.

Press Release:

Le financement philanthropique, un pilier complémentaire pour les médias, RFJ, 16.05.2025

Quel role peut jouer philanthropie dans le financement des médias?, Le Devoir, 10.05.2025

La philanthropie sera-t-elle l’avenir de la presse? Oui, mais sous condition, Tribune de Genève Online, 17.03.2025

Financement des médias - Le Pôle médias HEC Montréal s'allie à l'Université de Genève pour soutenir et encourager l'engagement philanthropique, Cision, 13.03.2025

Jeff Bezos ist ein interessierter Philanthrop, Persoenlich.com, 12.03.2025

Médias et Philanthropie : une alliance pour l'avenir?, Cominmag.ch, 12.03.2025

Gilles Marchand à l'UNIGE : une initiative pour étudier de nouveaux financements pour les médias, Cominmag.ch, 26.02.2025

Die neue dritte Finanzierungssäule, Medienfinanzierung. Philanthropie, 01.2025

Gilles Marchand rejoint le Centre en philanthropie de l’UNIGE, 04.12.2024, Comingmag.ch