Nonprofit Media Groups Struggle to Stay Afloat

Nonprofit news and entertainment media groups—such as the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, in New York—may be in danger of extinction, reports The Village Voice reports. Most such organizations were created in the 1970s, and while many of them believe their cause is now more important than ever, media groups are struggling to meet the demands of the changing times. The present political climate, the shifting focus of private grant makers, competition from for-profit conglomerates, and the accessibility of the Internet are often cited among the chief threats.

While some media experts advocate that these organizations embrace a more commercial mind-set, others say that doing so would compromise their original mission, which they believe is to provide an independent, grass-roots voice.