The Strengthening Independent Media Initiative (SIM) aims to bring greater strategic focus and coordination to the field of independent media development around the world; to improve the flow of financial support from private as well as public sources and promising new technologies into the media development sector; and to improve coordination between funders, trainers, and media development implementers.

Initiative Goals: Better mapping of the field internationally, including flows of private and public funding Identification of promising independent media projects and strategies that deserve greater investment Increase interest and investment in the independent media development Demonstrate increased interest in and support for international journalism work among media development funders, especially new media investors and individual philanthropists Develop strategies and recommendations will be taken up and put into practice participants and the organizations/networks they represent Motivate new interest and involvement in independent media development Core Thematic Areas: Accelerating Economic and Human Development: The Case for Media Development Rights and Responsibilities in a User Driven World News and Content in Markets to Come Media Development, Closed Societies and Minority Audiences The Role of Commons in the Networked Economy Independent Media 2020: Investing in a Future We Want   Strengthening Independent Media Partners The Salzburg Global Seminar is working with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Global Forum for Media Development to bring greater coordination to the field independent media around the world and increase the amount and effectiveness of media development support. We are currently forming additional partnerships with international media organizations, development institutions, and new investors.		Meetings: Between 2008 and 2010 the Salzburg Global Seminar, the Knight Foundation, and the Global Forum for Media Development will convene a series of leadership meetings designed to consider the use of digital tools and techniques to both decrease the waste and increase the flow of money into projects that improve journalism and the free flow of news. The preliminary schedule of the leadership meetings is: Project Planning Meeting March 16-19, 2008 Leadership Meeting 1 October 2008 Leadership Meeting 2 TBD 2008 Leadership Meeting 3 TBD, 2009 Leadership Meeting 4 TBD, 2009 Leadership Meeting 5 TBD, 2010 Leadership Meeting 6 TBD, 2010
For more information on the Strengthening Independent Media initiative, please contact: Benjamin Glahn Salzburg Global Seminar +43 (662) 839 830 bglahn@SalzburgGlobal.org