What Internews Network does

Internews Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media development organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Arcata, California, with operational headquarters in Washington DC, London, and Paris, and 30+ field offices worldwide. The organization supports independent media, journalists, and civil society actors across more than 100 countries (with active programs in 50+) through training, grants, technical assistance, and direct program delivery. Its core products include the Earth Journalism Network (34,000+ members, 17,700+ journalists trained since 2004), Listening Post Collective, Media Viability Accelerator, Civic DEFENDERS Program, and a suite of technology programs covering digital safety, digital rights advocacy, anti-censorship technologies, and civic space protection.

The organization's underlying technology stack combines proprietary frameworks (notably the Information Ecosystem Model for analyzing and improving media environments) with partnership-based digital safety infrastructure, including emergency VPN distribution programs via Surfshark and NordVPN to protect at-risk journalists from surveillance and censorship. It employs non-generative machine learning and Retrieval Augmented Generation AI for fact-checking and disinformation analysis, and publishes an AI Principles Framework for responsible use of generative AI and synthetic media.

Internews is funded through institutional grants from major foundations (Ford, Rockefeller, Open Society, Knight, MacArthur), government donors (European Union, USAID), corporate partnerships (Google, Meta, Microsoft), cause-marketing campaigns with commercial VPN providers, and individual donations. Programs are delivered free of charge to eligible beneficiaries including journalists, local media outlets, and civil society organizations. Wholly owned subsidiaries include FilmAid (refugee media, acquired August 2020), Newsgain (media business sustainability consulting, acquired September 2020), and the Earth Journalism Network. Leadership includes President and CEO Jeanne Bourgault, Chief Executive of Internews Europe Meera Selva, and CFO Robyn Mordeno.

Name

Internews Network

Legal name

Internews Network

Website

https://internews.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Internews Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that supports independent media and journalists across 100+ countries through training, grants, digital safety tools, and emergency VPN programs, funded primarily by major foundations and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

News & Public Affairs Syndication (MPABAMAF), Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH)

Keywords

• Media development services
• Journalist training programs
• Digital safety support
• Independent media assistance
• Information ecosystem analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Arcata

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Foundation Funding: Internews receives significant funding from foundations such as Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Open Society Foundations, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and others. These grants fund specific programs and operational costs.
2. Corporate and Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from corporations and individuals through its website, with options for one-time and recurring contributions in USD, EUR, and GBP.
3. Cause Marketing Campaigns: Charitable campaigns where corporate partners (like NordVPN) offer promotional subscriptions with donations to Internews, capped at specific thresholds for the first donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Internews is a nonprofit media support organization that delivers capacity-building programs, training, technical assistance, grants, and digital safety services to independent media outlets, journalists, and civil society organizations across 50+ countries. Its work spans direct program delivery through field offices, partnerships with technology providers for emergency digital protection (including VPN access), and the operation of global networks such as the Earth Journalism Network and Health Journalism Network.

Product overview

Internews is a nonprofit media development organization offering programmatic support rather than a traditional software product. Its offerings include the Earth Journalism Network (a global environmental journalism network), the Listening Post Collective (civic media support), Media Viability Accelerator (financial sustainability programs), and technology-focused initiatives including Digital Safety, Digital Rights, Anti-Censorship Technologies, and Civic Space Protection programs. The organization also provides the Health Journalism Network and has developed AI Principles Framework for responsible technology use. These programs work together to build healthy information ecosystems worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Earth Journalism Network Global network with over 34,000 members and 17,700 journalists trained since 2004, offering workshops, training materials, fellowships, reporting grants, and support for environmental news production and investigative reporting for journalists in developing countries.
• Listening Post Collective Collective bringing Internews' global expertise and strategies to meet community information needs in the US, comprising former journalists, business leaders, humanitarian activists, grassroots organizers, and public policy analysts.
• Media Viability Accelerator Program launched to counter threats to independent journalism by helping media outlets develop sustainable business models and achieve financial viability.
• Civic DEFENDERS Program Program designed to counter digital repression and protect civic society actors from online threats and surveillance.
• Digital Safety Programs Technology programs advancing the digital safety of partners, including training, organizational security support, and digital safety resources for journalists and human rights defenders.
• Digital Rights Advocacy Advocacy initiatives for digital rights and protections for vulnerable populations, including funding local internet rights advocacy and open source technology development.
• Anti-Censorship Technologies Programs supporting the development and deployment of tools to bypass internet censorship and maintain open access to information in repressive environments.
• Civic Space Protection Initiatives to protect civic space and support civil society organizations in maintaining their digital presence and operations.
• Health Journalism Network Network supporting health journalism to ensure accurate and timely health information reaches communities.
• Independent Journalism Project EU grant-funded program delivered by Internews Europe with consortium partners to support independent journalism in Europe.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported independent media in 100+ countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NordVPNcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2026NordVPN and Internews launched a limited-time charitable campaign offering 6-month NordVPN subscriptions to donors who contribute £35, with the initiative capped at the first 100 donors. The campaign supports journalists and independent media outlets in high-risk environments through emergency support, digital safety training, and legal aid. The organizations previously collaborated to provide thousands of free VPN accounts to journalists and activists facing digital threats.
• AndariyasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Sudanese multilingual digital multimedia and research platform that assisted with the 2025 Sudanese Media Ecosystem Report
• SurfsharkcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2025Surfshark partnered with Internews in June 2025 to provide free VPN access to journalists, activists, and civil society workers operating in hostile environments worldwide. The collaboration protects media professionals from government censorship, digital surveillance, and IP-based tracking through Surfshark's network of over 3,200 servers across 100 countries. The Emergency VPN program has helped 100 journalists and activists across 9 countries including Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternews leads United for News in collaboration with the World Economic Forum to help transform local media markets around the world. Also collaborated on Reflect Reality manual for newsrooms.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BBC Media Action: BBC's international development charity supporting independent media and journalism training in low-information and conflict-affected countries. Directly comparable mission, beneficiary base, and donor-funded model, and Internews team members (e.g., Craig Twitt) have moved between the two.
• Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR): Nonprofit that trains journalists and civil society actors in conflict and transition states. Overlaps with Internews on journalism training, grantmaking, and operating geographies, and Internews' CFO previously served as CFO at IWPR.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch nonprofit supporting independent journalism in fragile and repressive environments through training, digital safety, and direct news production. Closely comparable mission, target population, and donor profile to Internews.
• Open Technology Fund (OTF): Funded initially by Radio Free Asia, OTF supports internet freedom, anti-censorship, and digital safety tools for at-risk users. Direct overlap with Internews' anti-censorship, VPN distribution, and Civic DEFENDERS programs.
• Access Now: International digital rights nonprofit defending users' civil liberties online, including through digital security help desks, policy advocacy, and 24/7 helpline for at-risk civil society. Highly comparable to Internews' Digital Safety and Civic Space Protection programs.
• International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): Global nonprofit training journalists and supporting newsroom innovation worldwide. Directly comparable mission, network-based training model, and foundation/government donor base to Internews.
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): US-based press freedom organization that documents attacks on journalists, advocates for their release, and provides emergency support. Comparable mission around journalist safety, though operates primarily through advocacy and documentation rather than field-based training.

Others

• Reporters Without Borders (RSF):

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Welle Akademie: Germany's international broadcaster's development arm, delivering media development, journalism training, and capacity building globally. Overlapping mission with Internews but operating as part of a much larger state-funded broadcaster.
• USAID (media development programs): US government foreign assistance agency that funds independent media and counter-disinformation programs worldwide. Major historical funder of Internews and a peer in the broader media-development ecosystem, though as a funder/policy actor rather than a direct implementer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/internews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/InternewsNetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/internews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internews-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/internewshq

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Internews Network