Grants of $150,000 from Google News Initiative for Innovative Projects 2019

The Google News Initiative (GNI) has launched its first Innovation Challenge in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey region to give grants for projects conducted by organizations or individuals, focusing on encouraging a more sustainable news ecosystem.  The Challenge will focus on reader engagement and new business models in any form. 

Eligible Projects:

All ideas are welcome but Google is requiring all projects to have clear indicators showing the impact of the project from a user perspective and/or from a business perspective (e.g.: audience indicators, business plan when relevant). Successful projects will also need to be delivered within one year, in the following areas (not limited):

1. Business Models
2. Distribution
3. Interface
4. Social
5. Workflow

Projects that would not qualify:

1. Projects relating to news coverage only or projects merely translating news content into other languages.
2. Upgrades of legacy publishing systems.
3. Projects that relate to simply collating or listing data (for example, the publication of job listings or stock exchange data, or the re-publication of newswire articles).
4. Projects on training or education only.
5. Projects which do not have any monetization component.
6. Projects which do not impact a news organization.
7. Projects which reflect research without implementation.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. The Middle East, Africa and Turkey GNI Innovation Challenge is open to organizations, associations, academic or non-profit bodies of every size, including freelancers and sole traders, that aim to produce innovative, original journalism and to enlighten citizens with trustworthy journalistic content.
2. Only online applications in English will be considered. You will be asked to provide descriptions, detailed project plans and budget information.
3. Each applicant may only submit one application in each application round. 
4. For organizations that are part of a larger group or holding structure, Google News Initiative is unlikely to fund more than 3 projects per group or holding per application round.
5. Multiple applications for the same project will not be considered.
6. One applicant must be selected to submit the application on behalf of all collaborators.

Evaluation Criteria:

1. Impact on the news ecosystem: Projects should demonstrate potential for significant positive impact on the creation of new revenue streams and/or change the way people consume digital news.
2. Innovation: Preferred projects will be innovative (use of technology, business model, new reader engagement approaches etc.) and be transformative for the applicant and for users.
3. Feasibility: Projects should demonstrate clear indicators and metrics, or even a business plan when relevant, and set out key risks and mitigation steps.
4. Inspiration: How can the project help news organizations learn from each other? Willingness to share knowledge, open source code or/and to contribute to the improvement of the ecosystem overall.

Project Funding:

Google will fund up to $150,000 for selected projects. Google will finance up to 70% of the overall costs of the selected projects. The remaining self-funded costs can be operational costs. Eligible expenses include personnel costs, engineering costs and the purchase or licensing of any equipment, tools, hardware, software and other assets or materials needed for the project as well as marketing expenses (capped to 20% of the total amount requested). Editorial expenses are not part of the eligible costs and will not be covered. Funding may not be spent on general and overhead costs.