With a track record that includes providing more than $110 million in financing to 79 independent news businesses in 27 countries since 1995, measuring impact is critical to our work. The Media Development Impact Dashboard 2011 analyses the effect working with MDLF has on the sustainability of our clients' businesses and the wider influence they have on the countries in which they operate. See this summary:

Reach

In 2010, 38 million people received their news from MDLF clients. From 2009 to 2010, individual client reach increased by an average of 26%. After one year of working with MDLF, client reach grew by an average of 33%, and after 5 years by 71%.

Sales

In 2010, MDLF clients made a total of $97.5 million in sales. From 2009 to 2010, individual client sales grew by an average of 11%. After 5 years of working with MDLF, client sales increased by an average of 213%, and after 7 years by 345%.

Viability

In 2010, 45% of MDLF clients had risk-ratings below the 'safe' level of 5 and two had a 'high' risk-rating of more than 8. The economic downturn has impacted risk . in 2007 only 25% of clients had a rating over 5 compared to 55% in 2010. The average risk rating was 5.28.

reach
sales
viability
  • The Impact Dashboard 2011 found that after 5 years with MDLF, clients on average increase sales by 213%
  • They also increase their readers, listeners or viewers by 71%
  • For every $10,000 invested, MDLF helps provide access to independent news for 8,944 people
  • 34 clients employ 3,843 people
  • More than 38 million people in developing democracies get their news from our clients
  • MDLF. Investing in voices

Where the numbers come from and what they mean:

  • Impact Dashboard 2011 includes data on 34 current clients and 18 former clients reaching back to 1999.
  • Sales refers to income from circulation, advertising and printing services.
  • Reach means readers, listeners and viewers. industry standards are used whenever possible.
  • For Financial Viability, we use 7 indicators to assess the overall financial health of a news business.
  • Data is supplied by clients directly in regular monthly monitoring reports and specific questionnaires.

Read our full Methodology, including challenges and solutions, here.

To download the full MDLF Impact Dashboard in PDF format click on the appropriate year below: