U.S. government funding for international media development projects is on the rise again, and the Center for International Media Assistance released a report detailing USAID and US State Department spending trends.

Authored by Laura Mottaz, the report shows funding has bounced back from recession numbers, and spending on media freedom and freedom of information categories is at the ‘highest level since CIMA began tracking funding trends in 2006.’

This is good news for international media development organizations, especially those working on some of the big ticket efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, which the report mentions may have caused ‘ in part ‘ the rise in funding in the sector.

According to Freedom House, world press freedom has been declining since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Their Survey of Global Media Independence ‘ using just three colors to indicate whether a country is free, partly free, or not free ‘ makes trends clear.Freedom House Survey of Global Media Independence

The other key trend in CIMA‘s report is the increased investment by the U.S. government in digital media initiatives internationally, stating ‘nearly every U.S. media development grant encourages ‘ and often requires ‘ the incorporation of digital components.’

A sizable portion of Knight Foundation’s international work is done through ICFJ‘s Knight International Journalism Fellowships, which aim to make lasting, visible improvements to the quality and free flow of news in the public interest around the world. Anyone, anywhere can apply to be a Knight Fellow, and any institution can apply to be a partner and request a fellow’s support. Knight Foundation is also a supporter of the Center to Protect Journalists and IAPA in their impunity campaigns to defend press freedom and bring the killers of journalists to justice.