Media Development Investment Fund

Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), formerly Media Development Loan Fund, is a New York-registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and mission-driven investment fund that provides low-cost financing to independent news and information businesses in challenging environments, mostly in countries with a history of media oppression.[1] As one of the United States-based groups involved in direct media development, it specializes in impact investing and provides affordable debt, equity and quasi-equity financing to help journalists build sustainable businesses around professional, responsible, quality journalism.[2][3]

In 2016, MDIF was declared an "undesirable" organization by the Office of Prosecutor General of Russia using Russian undesirable organizations law and put on the List of organisations banned in Russia.[4][5]

Mission and impact

According to its website[6] “MDIF invests in independent media around the world providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies”.

Its own impact analysis[7] found that more than 120 million people get their news from media supported by MDIF. After five years of working with MDIF, media businesses increase their revenues by an average of 218% and their reach by an average of 187%.

History

MDIF was founded in 1995 by Saša Vučinić and Stuart Auerbach, the late Washington Post reporter and editor.[8] According to its website, George Soros provided the initial $500,000 funding in 1995 towards what later became MDLF.[9] The organisation was initially established to support media companies in Europe transitioning from communist systems to free markets, but has then expanded to provide financing to media businesses around the world.[10] Vučinić served as the CEO and Managing Director of MDLF until 31 March 2011,[11] when he stepped down and was succeeded by Harlan Mandel.[12] In 2013 Media Development Loan Fund changed its name to Media Development Investment Fund.[13] Currently, MDIF funders and investors include a wide range of organizations and individuals who share organisation's commitment to independent media. [14]

Financing

According to its website,[15] from 1996 to December 31, 2020, MDIF has provided more than $240 million in affordable financing, including:

  • $209 million in loans and equity investments;
  • Approximately $31.2 million in technical assistance and other grants;
  • Earned over $42.8 million in interest, dividends and capital gains;
  • Collected more than $74.5 million in recovered principal invested;
  • Approximately $0.6 million through Digital Kiosk, the secure payment service for independent media.

MDIF has invested in 128 clients across 44 countries, writing off 11.3% of the total loaned and invested.[15]

MDIF has returned $57.4 million to investors. It ended December 31, 2020 with a portfolio of $112 million in assets under management.[15]

Ownership and other activities

MDIF is one of the founders of the European Press Prize.[16]

In 1998 MDIF also founded CAMP (Centre for Advanced Media-Prague), which provided technology support to independent media in developing countries. In 2010, MDIF spun off CAMP as an independent organization, Sourcefabric, whose mission is to provide independent media outlets with the open source software, tools and support they need to produce the news.[17]

In 2017 MDIF acquired a majority stake in South African media company Mail & Guardian. The restructured ownership saw M&G’s Chief Executive Officer, Hoosain Karjieker, acquire a minority stake in the business as part of a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transaction. The former majority shareholder, Trevor Ncube, disposed of his equity interest in M&G.[18]

References
  1. Ashoka. "3 Innovations In Participative Journalism That Will Change The Media Industry". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  2. "How digital media sites can monetize their social capital". ijnet.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  3. "Media Development Investment Fund: Banking on a Free Press | ImpactAlpha". impactalpha.com. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  4. "Russia Bans More International Organizations". Human Rights Watch. 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  5. "Russia declares two more non-profits as undesirable". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  6. "MDIF". www.mdif.org. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  7. "MDIF". www.mdif.org. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  8. http://www.mdif.org/20th-timeline
  9. https://www.mdif.org/the-big-bang-theory-of-mdlf-2
  10. https://www.convergence.finance/resource/6Sr4O5FBxin7Jh5aBXe6nQ/view
  11. http://www.mdif.org/sasa-bio/
  12. http://www.mdif.org/about-us/management-team/harlan-mandel
  13. http://www.sifanews.com/mdlf-rebrands-media-development
  14. https://www.mdif.org/about/funders-and-investors
  15. https://www.mdif.org/impact/track-recor
  16. "Partners - European Press Prize". European Press Prize. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  17. Sourcefabric. "Mission/History". Sourcefabric. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  18. "MDIF acquires majority stake in South Africa's Mail & Guardian". mg.co.za. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
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