Google has announced its Asia-Pacific GNI Innovation Challenge in India, under its News Initiative. The aim of the challenge is to get proposals from publishers and journalists that are aimed at increasing the revenue from readers. The selected projects will be funded by Google and the company will not only provide up to US$ 300,000 but also finance up to 70% of the total project cost.
In Asia-Pacific, journalists and publishers are increasingly grappling with questions over how quality journalism can thrive in the digital age. From Yangon to Manila, Sydney to New Delhi, they are experimenting with fresh approaches to reporting and new business models.
Google has been working hand in hand with publishers to understand those challenges, and over the past year has supported Asian newsrooms and publishers through the Google News Initiative (GNI).
Asia-Pacific GNI Innovation Challenge has been created to help build a stronger future for journalism in Asia-Pacific, which will fund projects that inject new ideas into the news industry.
Proposals for projects aimed at increasing revenue from readers are invited, including subscriptions, membership programs, contributions and new digital products and services. A panel of Googlers and other tech industry executives will review the submissions and fund selected projects up to US$ 300,000 and finance up to 70% of the total project cost.
The funding will be reviewed against several criteria, including a sharing component – for example by publishing any findings or holding a seminar – so grantees can pass their knowledge onto others in the industry.
Given the pace of change in the news industry, innovation has never been more important. The company is assuring that all organizations, large and small, in the Asia-Pacific news ecosystem have the opportunity to suggest new ideas around this critically important topic. Applications will open on 28 November 2018, and the deadline for submission is 9 January 2019.
