Impact

Measuring the impact of our work is important to us, our clients and our investors. So, every year we carry out a detailed assessment of the effect we have on the financial self-sustainability of our clients.

Every month we collect in-depth financial information from each client. We analyse this information over the length of our relationship, usually five to seven years, to produce an intimate portrait of the development of each news outlet - and through it, a clear indication of the impact of MDLF itself.

We measure the impact of our work by three metrics: sales, reach and financial viability. The key findings of the Media Development Impact Dashboard 2009 include:

• In 2008, more than 32 million people in developing democracies got their news from 37 MDLF clients, an increase of almost 3.5 million from 2007.
• After 5 years with MDLF, current clients on average have increased their sales by 370%.
• In 2008, 29 clients generated more than $150 million in sales.
• After five years with MDLF, current clients on average have increased their readers, listeners or viewers by 49%.
• In 2008, each dollar invested by MDLF leveraged $4.11 in client sales, compared to $2.49 in 1999.
• For every $10,000 invested in 2008, MDLF supported access to independent news for 8,789 readers, listeners and viewers, more than double the 1999 level of 4,238.

Although challenges remain over how we collect and analyse this data, we think the Impact Dashboard provides a valuable measure of the real impact of our work.

To download the full Impact Dashboard 2009 and previous years, follow the link on the left. To read the methodology, click here.