Innovators from around the globe have two more weeks to submit an
application to the 2009 Knight News Challenge (www.newschallenge.org)
digital innovation contest. Applicants have a chance to win up to $5
million. The deadline is Nov. 1.
The worldwide competition seeks innovative ideas that use digital
experiments to transform community news and information exchange. Ideas
should push the edge, whether that involves bringing Web 2.0 tools to
local neighborhoods, improving online news or creating publishing
platforms to inspire conversations in specific geographic communities.
There are only four rules. Winning entries must:
1. Use or create digital, open-source technology;
2. Use news and information to serve the public interest;
3. Benefit at least one specific geographic community;
4. Be innovative.
This is the third year of the News Challenge, a $25 million initiative
of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For the first time, the
contest offers more than 50 coaches standing by online in the “News
Challenge Garage” at www.garage.newschallenge.org
to help innovators apply.
Last year’s winners received prizes ranging
from $15,000 to $876,000. They included individuals, philanthropic
organizations and for-profit businesses, such as the Bakersfield
Californian newspaper. Ten winners were from the United States, and
six were from Canada, England, Lithuania, South Africa, Zimbabwe and
Russia.
To apply, or find detailed information about past winners and answers to
frequently asked questions, visit www.newschallenge.org.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism
excellence worldwide and in the vitality ofU.S. communities
where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation
has granted more than $400 million to advance quality journalism and
freedom of expression. Knight Foundation focuses on projects with the
potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.
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