--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing the giant…" description: "\"The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do - Gates, Rockefeller, Ford, Open Society Institute, and new ones emerging - would be to crea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png" --- # The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do… ![“The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do - Gates, Rockefeller, Ford, Open Society Institute, and new ones emerging - would be to create a $2-to-$3 billion Trust for Independent Journalism. They wouldn't miss the money, and democracy would still have a fighting chance because of…” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png) > “The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do - Gates, Rockefeller, Ford, Open Society Institute, and new ones emerging - would be to create a $2-to-$3 billion Trust for Independent Journalism. They wouldn't miss the money, and democracy would still have a fighting chance because of their investment.” [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philanthropists should fund an independent journalism trust to sustain democracy. **In simple terms:** Fund journalism to protect democracy. Key Takeaway Create a trust for independent news. Themes philanthropy media democracy Mood concerned hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - nonprofit funding - policy advocacy - media outlets Key Concepts independent journalism trust structures Questions to Reflect On - How ensure trust independence? - What safeguards are needed? A Different Perspective Trusts may face political pressure or mismanagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country, or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/we-have-got-to-nurture-the-spirit-of-independent-journalism-in-this/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Through money, democracy becomes its own destroyer, after money has destroyed intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-spengler/through-money-democracy-becomes-its-own-destroyer-after-money-has/) [Oswald Spengler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-spengler/) > [Why would the moneyed be granted higher education and an intelligent student be deprived because his father has no money? This is, after all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-manjrekar/why-would-the-moneyed-be-granted-higher-education-and-an-intelligent/) [Mahesh Manjrekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-manjrekar/) > [I really don't think we've become a plutocracy, but I worry about the enormous influence that money has in a democracy such as ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deaton/i-really-don-t-think-we-ve-become-a-plutocracy-but-i-worry-about-the/) [Angus Deaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deaton/) > [Perhaps profit isn't everything, but nothing works without profit. Profit is the basis for independent journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathias-dopfner/perhaps-profit-isn-t-everything-but-nothing-works-without-profit/) [Mathias Dopfner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathias-dopfner/) > [It's important that communities support local, independent journalism, which many people rely upon for information relevant to their daily lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiko-kakutani/it-s-important-that-communities-support-local-independent-journalism/) [Michiko Kakutani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiko-kakutani/) > [CNN is an American symbol of independent journalism and First Amendment free speech. My board and I are clear: CNN will remain completely independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/cnn-is-an-american-symbol-of-independent-journalism-and-first/) [Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/) > [As editor-in-chief of the 'Guardian' and the 'Observer', my job is to ensure that our independent journalism continues to be enjoyed by as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/as-editor-in-chief-of-the-guardian-and-the-observer-my-job-is-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Big money and big business, corporations and commerce, are again the undisputed overlords of politics and government. The White House, the Congress and, increasingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/big-money-and-big-business-corporations-and-commerce-are-again-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Dr Dean Burk, who has spent more than fifty years in cancer research, mainly at the National Cancer Institute states: 'More people have died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-burk/dr-dean-burk-who-has-spent-more-than-fifty-years-in-cancer-research/) [Dean Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-burk/) > [The Smithsonian Institute is one of the most popular agencies of government in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-dicks/the-smithsonian-institute-is-one-of-the-most-popular-agencies-of/) [Norm Dicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-dicks/) > [I ask you to make INSTITUTE a PRIORITY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-ask-you-to-make-institute-a-priority/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [In 1986, I was asked by the then-Dean of Science at the University of British Columbia, Dr. R.C. Miller, Jr., to establish a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-smith/in-1986-i-was-asked-by-the-then-dean-of-science-at-the-university-of/) [Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-smith/) > [My aim is to institute perpetual adoration," spoke St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Franciscan priest and founder of the Knights of the Immaculata. For he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/my-aim-is-to-institute-perpetual-adoration-spoke-st-maximilian-maria/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [It has never been more critical that a leader step forward to accelerate our understanding of cancer - and champion the effort to finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-dzau/it-has-never-been-more-critical-that-a-leader-step-forward-to/) Victor J. Dzau ## More by Bill Moyers > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/charity-provides-crumbs-from-the-table-justice-offers-a-place-at-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/conservatism-is-less-a-set-of-ideas-than-it-is-a-pathological/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [When the public loses faith in democracy's ability to solve the problems it has created for itself, the game's almost over. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/when-the-public-loses-faith-in-democracy-s-ability-to-solve-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [It's very difficult to measure the impact on policy of any investigative journalism. You hope it matters to let a little more truth loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/it-s-very-difficult-to-measure-the-impact-on-policy-of-any/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Unless you're willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/unless-you-re-willing-to-fight-and-refight-the-same-battles-until-you/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/this-is-the-first-time-in-my-32-years-in-public-broadcasting-that-pbs/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-being-tolerant-of-differing-opinions-if-believing-that-america-has/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/civilization-is-but-a-thin-veneer-stretched-across-the-passions-of/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I really believe that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-really-believe-that-coincidence-is-god-s-way-of-remaining-anonymous/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [A profound transformation is happening here. The framers of our nation never envisioned these huge media giants; never imagined what could happen if big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-profound-transformation-is-happening-here-the-framers-of-our-nation/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Explore all 157 Bill Moyers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## More Billions quotes > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The universe is simmering down, like a giant stew left to cook for four billion years. Sooner or later we won’t be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/the-universe-is-simmering-down-like-a-giant-stew-left-to-cook-for/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [If Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh, He's one of a kind of the 13 billions of people who have ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/if-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-in-human-flesh-he-s-one-of-a-kind-of-the/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [Here we were talking about economic development, about investing billions of dollars in various programs, and I could see it wasn't billions of dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/here-we-were-talking-about-economic-development-about-investing/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [Everyone thinks they've won the Magical Belief Lottery. Everyone thinks they more or less have a handle on things, that they, as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/everyone-thinks-they-ve-won-the-magical-belief-lottery-everyone/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The technology involved in making anything invisible is so infinitely complex that nine hundred and ninety-nine billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-technology-involved-in-making-anything-invisible-is-so-infinitely/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form is therefore highly improbable even to the scale of the billions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-prigogine/the-idea-of-spontaneous-generation-of-life-in-its-present-form-is/) [Ilya Prigogine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-prigogine/) > [To defy heredity is to defy billions of years, to defy the first cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/to-defy-heredity-is-to-defy-billions-of-years-to-defy-the-first-cell/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) Browse all 1,864 Billions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do - Gates, Rockefeller, Ford, Open Society Institute, and new ones emerging - would be to create a $2-to-$3 billion Trust for Independent Journalism. They wouldn't miss the money, and democracy would still have a fighting chance because of their investment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Moyers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/the-most-important-thing-the-giant-philanthropies-could-do-gates/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/the-most-important-thing-the-giant-philanthropies-could-do-gates/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/bill-moyers-2625_billions_the-most-important-thing-the-giant-phila_2945721.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do - Gates, Rockefeller, Ford, Open Society…” — Bill Moyers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill Moyers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important thing the giant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/the-most-important-thing-the-giant-philanthropies-could-do-gates/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/the-most-important-thing-the-giant-philanthropies-could-do-gates/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```