Center for the Future of Arizona to Launch Arizona Media Institute Powered by Visionary Investment from Don Budinger

Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) is excited to introduce the Arizona Media Institute, a new initiative designed to collaborate with and support Arizona’s state and local media by providing data-driven tools and resources to enhance their capacity and impact. This transformative effort is made possible by a $1 million founding gift from Don Budinger, a visionary philanthropist, founding supporter of CFA, and champion of The Arizona We Want.

“As a long-standing partner to CFA, I’m thrilled to see this important initiative come to life,” said Don Budinger, Founding Director and Chair of the Rodel Foundation. “State and local media are the cornerstone of informed communities and meaningful public dialogue. The Arizona Media Institute represents an important step in ensuring Arizona’s media can meet the challenges of our time while fostering trust and engagement across our state.”

The Arizona Media Institute aligns with CFA’s mission to bring Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for the state. The effort builds on The Arizona We Want, a data-informed vision of success reflecting the shared priorities of Arizonans, including quality education, jobs and economic opportunity, civic engagement, and a sustainable future. The Institute will support journalists, news influencers, and news organizations in their vital role as independent providers of reporting that enhances public dialogue, fosters problem-solving, and builds trust.

Meeting a Critical Need in Arizona’s Media Landscape
The Arizona Media Institute comes at a pivotal time as media organizations face shrinking newsrooms, rapid technology changes, increasing demands, and growing polarization as they seek to inform and engage the public on many complex issues. CFA brings unique value to this space through its nonpartisan survey research, Arizona Progress Meters, and deep expertise in fostering collaboration and innovative, data-driven action. Building on the vital work of other initiatives in Arizona that focus on newsroom funding, CFA aims to complement these efforts with reliable data, information, and tools.

“The Arizona Media Institute is a natural progression of CFA’s more than 20 years of empowering leaders and advancing the priorities of Arizonans,” said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. “Strong media is essential to a thriving democracy. By formalizing our support for Arizona media, we aim to strengthen reporting, elevate public discourse, and foster the shared understanding necessary to achieve The Arizona We Want.”

About the Arizona Media Institute
The Arizona Media Institute will formally launch later this year. It will include an online resources component and a year-round calendar of programming, developed with input from an advisory council of media professionals and provided at no cost to newsrooms across Arizona.

The Institute will provide:

• Resources Hub: A user-friendly repository of data, tools, programs, expert directories, and more to support reporting on critical issues.
• Programming: Subject matter expert sessions, interactive briefings, case studies, and more to support the diverse media landscape.
• Arizona Media Landscape Metrics: A third-party research firm will be enlisted to help measure the health of Arizona’s media landscape over time–key insights for the media professionals the Institute serves.

Looking Ahead
CFA is engaging a working group of advisors to guide the startup phase and will form and announce a full advisory council later this year. Composed of media professionals and leaders, the council will ensure efforts are aligned with the industry’s needs and tailored to provide impactful, audience-centered support.

“Building community connections is what Arizona local media operations work to do every day," said Chris Kline, President and CEO of the Arizona Media Association and Arizona Local News Foundation. "We look forward to collaborating with CFA to support journalists across the state with even more access to data and tools that can help make Arizona an even better place to live.”

CFA will hire a Project Manager to support the Institute’s day-to-day implementation. Applications are open through Feb. 3. The organization is also accepting proposals from research firms through Feb. 26 to support measurement and impact evaluation efforts.

“Don Budinger has been an extraordinary champion for Arizona, and his steadfast support for this initiative makes it possible,” added Dr. Francis. “We are thrilled to be able to embark on this important work and look forward to launching later this year.”

For more information about the Arizona Media Institute, contact CFA’s Senior Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications, Heather Thornton, at [email protected].