Media

Media diversity and visual literacy

Transparent and fact-based information about societal and political events is important for any democracy. Media that provide information objectively and contextualise political events create the foundation for forming opinions and political discourse. A range of independent media is required for this. The Volkart Foundation thus supports media diversity by funding independent journalistic services and technical developments for media in Switzerland.

Images are increasingly supplementing and replacing information that has previously been conveyed through language. The wider community must be able to critically classify images. The Volkart Foundation therefore supports image literacy by promoting educational opportunities for critical engagement with images.

The Volkart Foundation emphasises systemic change so that the causes of societal challenges can be addressed sustainably. We promote ambitious and innovative projects, interdisciplinary ideas, and bold approaches. We also support pilot projects, offer the  «Projekte mit Wirkung» training course, provide operating subsidies, and promote organisational development. In order to achieve a major leverage effect, we look to cooperate with other foundations, raise awareness of initiatives, and actively contribute towards an exchange of knowledge.

In the field of media, the Volkart Foundation accepts applications by invitation only.

We ask for your understanding that unsolicited funding applications will neither be reviewed nor responded to.

Editorial Independence

The Volkart Foundation promotes media diversity and the information ecosystem in Switzerland as careful reporting and research are fundamental to democratic infrastructure. We only support media that are orientated towards the common good and adhere to the Code of Rights and Duties of Journalists. We believe that editorial independence is the greatest asset of any editorial team. For this reason, the Volkart Foundation never interferes in editorial matters.

What we do not support:

• Issues that do not directly fit in with the above-mentioned focus areas and the Volkart Foundation’s overall strategy
• Individual support for journalists, such as for trainings or scholarships
• Media education projects (except in the area of visual literacy)
• Projects with a predominantly profit-orientated background
• Scientific research
• Publications and exhibitions
• Awards and prizes
• Conferences and congresses
• Art and culture projects