Good Reasons to Invest in Journalism

For decades, foundations have poured money into journalism training around the world in the belief that strong, independent news media are a vital component of democracy. And for just as long, those funders have wondered if the investment was worth it. Trainers who spent weeks or months in a country working with local journalists knew they were making a difference-transferring new skills and reinforcing the importance of accuracy and fairness. But success was hard to quantify and even harder to sustain.

Now, a new report on one of the biggest international journalism training programs has measured its impact in a different way-by looking at what changed as a result of the journalism being done. The bottom line? Good journalism really does make a difference.

•In Kenya, a series on shoddy care in public hospitals resulted in $7.5 million to improve care
•In Indonesia, a series on medical waste prompted the government to order hospitals to build their own wastewater treatment facilities; and
•In Peru, after crimes by unlicensed cab drivers were exposed, taxis were required to show official identification

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