Internews

{{Short description|Organization}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{More citations needed|date=July 2010}}

{{Undisclosed paid|date=May 2022}}

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{{Infobox organization/Wikidata

| fetchwikidata=ALL

|country=United States

|logo=File:Internews logo.svg

|headquarters=876 7th St, Arcata, California

|founders={{ubl|David M. Hoffman|Kim Spencer|Evelyn Messinger}}

}}

Internews Network,{{Cite web |title=Information Saves Lives {{!}} Internews |url=https://www.internews.org/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Internews Website |language=en-US}} now Internews, is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in California, formed in 1982. It was founded by David M. Hoffman,{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=David M. |author-link=David M. Hoffman |last2=Helle |first2=Dale |date=2005-06-23 |title=Winning the war of ideas |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/23/20050623-084201-6823r/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=The Washington Times}}{{Cite web |last=Keiger |first=Dale |date=June 2005 |title=The Long, Strange Trip of David Hoffman |url=https://pages.jh.edu/jhumag/0605web/hoffman.html |website=Johns Hopkins Magazine}} Kim Spencer, and Evelyn Messinger. The president and CEO is Jeanne Bourgault.

Internews Europe is an independent media development organization, based in London, United Kingdom and relying mainly on European funding.{{Cn|date=February 2025}} Internews Europe is chaired by Mark Stephens. One of the organization's first projects was a series of Spacebridges that connected the U.S. and Soviet Union by satellite,{{Cite web |last=Thatcher |first=Gary |date=1984-12-17 |title=Americans and Russians 'dance to each other's music' via satellite |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/1217/121745.html |access-date=2019-07-15 |website=The Christian Science Monitor |issn=0882-7729}} a program that culminated with a TV series named "Capital to Capital" that aired on ABC and won an Emmy Award in 1988.{{Cite web |first= |date=2013-12-21 |title=FDL Book Salon Welcomes David M. Hoffman, Citizens Rising: Independent Journalism and the Spread of Democracy |url=https://shadowproof.com/2013/12/21/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-david-m-hoffman-citizens-rising-independent-journalism-and-the-spread-of-democracy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718183418/https://shadowproof.com/2013/12/21/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-david-m-hoffman-citizens-rising-independent-journalism-and-the-spread-of-democracy/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |access-date=2019-07-18 |website=Shadowproof}}

In early 2015, Internews Network and Internews Europe began to integrate more closely and operate cooperatively with independent boards of directors.{{cite web|title = About Us {{!}} Internews|url = http://www.internews.org/about-internews|website = www.internews.org|access-date = 2015-08-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150803190558/http://www.internews.org/about-internews|archive-date = 2015-08-03|url-status = dead}}

According to Anadolu, Internews is "suspected of promoting covert censorship and media control" and has received significant US government funding.{{Cite web |title=Wikileaks reveals US spent $472.6M to promote covert censorship, media control through NGO |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/wikileaks-reveals-us-spent-4726m-to-promote-covert-censorship-media-control-through-ngo/3476741 |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}{{Cite web |title=USAspending.gov |url=https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_72011523CA00001_7200 |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.usaspending.gov |language=en}} The Center for Public Integrity wrote that "the vast majority of Internews’ efforts are bankrolled by the U.S. Agency for International Development and other federal sources." Its board of directors has included several (former) US government officials.{{Cite web |last=Varsalona |first=Devin |date=2006-11-30 |title=Internews Network |url=https://publicintegrity.org/health/internews-network/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Center for Public Integrity |language=en-US}}

Overview

According to their mission statement, "Internews is a nonprofit that supports independent media in 100 countries — from radio stations in refugee camps, to hyper-local news outlets, to filmmakers and technologists. Internews trains journalists and digital rights activists, tackles disinformation, and offers business expertise to help media outlets thrive financially. For 40 years, it has helped partners reach millions of people with trustworthy information that saves lives, improves livelihoods, and holds institutions accountable."{{Cite web |title=About Internews |url=https://internews.org/about/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Internews Website |language=en-US}}

According to Internews' 2021 990 form, the organization is primarily supported by the US and European governments, with additional support from foundations and individuals. Funders have included the AOL-Time Warner Foundation, the Beagle Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation{{Cite web |title=Current Donors |url=http://www.internews.org/support-connect/current-donors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123192433/http://www.internews.org/support-connect/current-donors |archive-date=2012-01-23 |access-date=2012-01-25 |website=Internews Website}} and others.{{cite web | url = http://www.internews.org/support-connect/current-donors | title = Current Donors | access-date = 2012-01-25 | publisher = internews.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120123192433/http://www.internews.org/support-connect/current-donors | archive-date = 2012-01-23 | url-status = dead }}

class="wikitable mw-collapsible"

|+Share of yearly government contributions to total revenues 2001-2021

!Year

!share [%]

!total revenue [$]

!government contributions [$]

2001

|81.59

|17,392,360

|14,190,285{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2001 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2002

|78.31

|19,178,928

|15,019,035{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2002 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2003

|84.28

|22,678,135

|19,112,784{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2003 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |url-status= |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2004

|93.85

|26,713,336

|25,069,832{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2004 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2005

|86.25

|24,733,840

|21,331,917{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2005 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2006

|91.22

|25,258,307

|23,040,293{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2006 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2007

|94.24

|26,778,399

|25,236,162{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2007 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2008

|96.91

|28,897,690

|28,003,819{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2008 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |archive-date= |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2009

|92.89

|33,098,734

|30,745,460{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2009 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2010

|71.56

|42,067,236

|30,101,939{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2010 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2011

|92.42

|56,644,153

|52,350,784{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2011 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2012

|95.05

|55,051,041

|52,327,393{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2012 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2013

|90.84

|55,475,289

|50,394,554{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2013 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2014

|86.02

|52,523,028

|45,177,894{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Form 990 for fiscal year ending 2014 |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/8436534 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Candid Website |page=1}}

2015

|93.86

|56,435,553

|52,969,464{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2015 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_201512_990_2017033014234345.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2016

|93.13

|51,196,517

|47,679,161{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2016 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_201612_990_2018010515092249.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2017

|92.61

|53,245,387

|49,308,717{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2017 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_201712_990_2019021416096665.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2018

|93.16

|53,606,756

|49,942,046{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2018 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_201812_990_2020013017091421.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2019

|72.42

|66,793,506

|48,372,313{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2019 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_201912_990_2021030117769259.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2020

|69.18

|74,708,960

|51,683,379{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2020 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_202012_990_2022010719417291.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2021

|68.53

|84,725,218

|58,059,180{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2021 Form 990 |url=https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/943027961_202112_990_2023031321087682.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IRS Website |page=9}}

2023

|75.88

|123,850,736

|93,974,716{{Cite web |title=Internews Network Tax Year 2023 Form 990 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943027961/202432979349301033/full |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=ProPublica |page=1}}

Criminal investigations

In April 2007 Russian police raided the office of the Educated Media Foundation, a section of Internews which trains journalists and fosters an independent media, as part of an investigation into its president, Manana Aslamazyan, who was accused of bringing too much cash into Russia from a visit to France.{{cite news | title=Police 'close' Russia foundation | date=April 20, 2007 | url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6576505.stm | work=BBC | access-date=2007-04-22 | archive-date=2019-07-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718183505/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6576505.stm | url-status=dead }} Russia's Constitutional Court ruled on May 26, 2008, that charges against Manana Aslamazyan were illegal. In line with the ruling, Russia’s Interior Ministry dropped the charges and a warrant for Aslamazyan’s arrest.{{cite news | title= Russia scraps arrest warrant for media campaigner| date=May 28, 2008| url =https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2833869720080528| work =Reuters | access-date = 2009-03-05 }}

Internews Center for Innovation & Learning

Based in Washington, D.C., and operating globally, The Internews Center for Innovation & Learning experiments with various approaches to communication from around the world. The center intends to capturing the technological discoveries of field offices to enrich the knowledge base of the international development community as a whole.{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=The Internews Center for Innovation and Learning |url=http://www.internews.org/global-issues/center-innovation-and-learning |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329125942/http://www.internews.org/global-issues/center-innovation-and-learning |archive-date=2012-03-29 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Internews Website}}

Internews' Media Map project once was the main feature of the center. In partnership with the World Bank Institute and the Brookings Institution and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Media Map project analyzed and published data on the interrelations between information access and outcomes in democracy and governance, economic growth, poverty reduction, human rights, gender equality, and health.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-06 |title=Internews Launches Center for Innovation, Research & Learning |url=http://internews.org/our-stories/program-news/internews-launches-center-innovation-research-learning |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710102125/http://internews.org/our-stories/program-news/internews-launches-center-innovation-research-learning |archive-date=2012-07-10 |access-date=2012-07-10 |website=Internews Website}}

Leadership

The president and CEO is Jeanne Bourgault.{{cite web|url=http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns-magazine/september-2013/alumni/bourgault/|title=Alumni Profile: Jeanne Bourgault|last=Slavin|first=Peter|date=September 2013|website=www.washington.edu|publisher=Columns the University of Washington Alumni Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-09}} The Board of Directors includes senior leaders from media, business and government, such as

Chris Boskin, Simone Otus Coxe, founder David Hoffman, Lorne Craner, Anja Manuel, and Cristiana Falcone Sorrell.{{cite web|title=Internews Officers and Directors|url=https://www.internews.org/about-internews/directors-officers|access-date=Sep 16, 2014}} National Security Advisor Susan Rice served on Internews' Board before rejoining the U.S. government.{{cite web|url=https://internews.org/updates/obama-names-former-internews-board-member-susan-rice-be-national-security-advisor|title=Obama Names Former Internews Board Member Susan Rice to be National Security Advisor|access-date=September 16, 2014|archive-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124534/https://internews.org/updates/obama-names-former-internews-board-member-susan-rice-be-national-security-advisor|url-status=dead}}

References

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