Laura Chapman on Education Weekly’s“Philanthropic” Funding
The post below is from the comments section of my September 6, 2014, post, Gates, Other “Philanthropy,” and the Purchase of a Success Narrative. It was written by Laura Chapman, veteran arts educator whose well-researched observations on the entangled funding of privatizing reform are often featured on education historian Diane Ravitch’s blog.
Below, Chapman briefly examines the numerous philanthropies whose agendas arguably shape the reporting priorities of Education Week.
I added the links, images, and formatting in order to convert into a full-fledged post what Chapman apologizes for as lengthy commentary.
The degree to which EdWeek shapes its reporting is uncertain. However, one issue is clear: The education news that makes it to public purview is certainly strained through a complex sieve of philanthropic preferences.
I give you Laura Chapman.
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Apologies perhaps for a long post.
Gates is not the only player in shaping what the media cover. Education Week, founded in the early 1980s, has a regular circulation of about 50,000.
We seek and accept grant funding from the philanthropic community. …Foundation funding has been instrumental in launching the annual Quality Counts and Diplomas Count reports. Grants also provide the additional resources that enable our newsroom, research center, and Web-production team to produce consistently high-quality, engaging news and information spanning the full range of issues that impact public education. …Portions of our Editorial Projects in Education are underwritten by 16 individual funders. …Editorial decision-making and the creation and publication of content—including content produced with support from philanthropic funding—remain in the sole control of Education Week, under the direction of its Editor-in-Chief and Executive Editor.
Doubtful.
Foundations shape the topics given special attention, especially when it comes to “innovation” and “reform.”
I have not figured out why some of topics being sponsored in EdWeek have the same Laura Chapman on Education Weekly’s “Philanthropic” Funding | deutsch29: