Foundations and the Press

To the Editor:

As a former newspaper reporter now working in the foundation world, I am intrigued by the current debate over the proper role of foundations in journalism. While many foundations would like to fund better news coverage and public awareness of issues that the foundations believe are important, and while some foundations simply want to enhance the profession of journalism, reporters and news organizations are sometimes reluctant to consider developing relationships with foundations. The reasons commonly cited are that such relationships might impair reporters’ objectivity and that foundations might try to manipulate news coverage.

So it was interesting to read Pablo Eisenberg’s column, “Philanthropy Must Do More to Recognize the Young Who Do Good” (April 18), in which he argues that foundations should do more to help support positive role models for youth. It’s a worthy goal, but unfortunately, one of his suggestions is that the news media should shift their focus, and that “foundations, through their financing of media groups, should be doing more to influence this issue.”

It’s hard to imagine a better argument for why news organizations should suspect the motives of foundations interested in funding them.

David H. Roberson
Director of Communications
Duke Endowment
Charlotte, N.C.