Media heavyweights form new research group to support free press

A group of prominent media, tech and research executives have raised nearly $3 million to launch an independent policy research center focused on addressing global internet issues, such as disinformation, algorithmic accountability, and the economic health of the news industry. While the Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI) is not designed to lobby or advocate on behalf of specific policy proposals, it does hope to influence future internet policy toward maintaining an open internet and an independent press. The group believes those positions “reinforce the democratic principles of open societies.”  CNTI is led by Executive Director Amy Mitchell, formerly the director of journalism research at Pew Research Center. The group's board is chaired by former McClatchy President and CEO Craig Forman, who serves as a partner at NextNews Ventures, a media and telecommunications investment firm. CNTI will conduct its own research, but it will also synthesize and commission other high-quality research to drive conversations about internet policy. All of its work—including its research, analysis and policy discussions—will be available for free as a resource to anyone looking to shape global internet policy.