Google news innovation challenge

The Google News Innovation Challenge is an initiative by Google to support innovative projects that aim to improve the quality, diversity, and sustainability of news media. The challenge is open to news organizations, startups, and individuals from around the world.

Here are some key details about the Google News Innovation Challenge:

Objective: The challenge aims to support innovative projects that can help news organizations adapt to the changing media landscape, improve their business models, and better serve their audiences.

Eligibility: The challenge is open to news organizations, startups, and individuals from around the world. Applicants can be from any country, but the project must be based in a country where Google has a presence.

Types of projects: The challenge is open to a wide range of projects, including:

  1. Newsroom innovation: Projects that aim to improve the way news is gathered, reported, and produced.
  2. Business model innovation: Projects that aim to create new revenue streams or improve existing ones for news organizations.
  3. Audience engagement: Projects that aim to increase audience engagement and loyalty.
  4. Data journalism: Projects that aim to use data to tell stories and inform the public.
  5. Digital transformation: Projects that aim to help news organizations transition to a digital-first approach.

Prizes: The challenge offers a range of prizes, including:

  1. Funding: Up to $1 million in funding for each winning project.
  2. Mentorship: Access to Google's expertise and mentorship from industry leaders.
  3. Resources: Access to Google's tools and resources, including Google Cloud, Google Analytics, and more.
  4. Visibility: Winners will be featured on Google's website and social media channels.

Application process: The application process typically involves submitting a proposal outlining the project idea, goals, and budget. A panel of judges will review the proposals and select the winners.

Timeline: The challenge typically runs for several months, with the following timeline:

  1. Application period: 2-3 months
  2. Judging period: 2-3 months
  3. Winner announcement: 1-2 months
  4. Project implementation: 6-12 months

Past winners: The Google News Innovation Challenge has supported many innovative projects over the years, including:

  1. The Guardian's "Keep Truth Alive" project, which aimed to improve fact-checking and combat misinformation.
  2. The New York Times' "The Daily" podcast, which aimed to create a daily news podcast.
  3. The BBC's "The Social" project, which aimed to create a social media platform for news organizations.

How to apply: To apply for the Google News Innovation Challenge, you can visit the Google News Initiative website and follow the application process.