General Program

Through the General Program, the Foundation funds independent documentary film and video, public radio, arts and culture in Chicago, and multiyear initiatives in changing areas of special interest.

General Program staff recently conducted an exploratory process to help better understand the environment in which media grantmaking is based, particularly examining the impact of technological change on how individuals are likely to obtain information in the future. The review pointed to some significant trends: the ability of information consumers to decide when and on what device (e.g., iPod, cell phone, television, computer) to receive programming; the growing ability of citizens to become reporters and filmmakers and to distribute their work on the Internet; the increasing ease of conversation between information producers and consumers; and the continuing need for high-quality, nonfiction content that is produced for the distinctive properties of websites, radio, television, books, and other media. MacArthur’s media grantmaking has begun to take greater account of these changes.