$25 million (Knight News Challenge) invested in innovative approaches to journalism – the result: strengthened local communities. This is the goal of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.This is Innovation world. Eric Newton starts of the conversation. He begins with how the Knight Foundation got started, in newspapers and now how the foundation giving back to the community.For the challenge the foundation was looking for digital innovation (cell phone, computer…), news and information (non-fiction), a way to inform geographic community, and open source (shared with people). Some of the big winners last year were MIT, EveryBlock, MTV and Open-Source Community News. For a complete list of the winners visit: http://www.newschallenge.org/winners.html
Winner: Nora Paul, Playing the News – (Director, Institute for New Media Studies, University of Minnesota) “Playing the News is a news simulation environment which lets citizens play through a complex, evolving news story through interaction with the newsmakers.”
Top 11 tips to apply for a grant:
1. Do it
2. Apply early – Apply often
3. Keep grant’s goals in mind
4. Practice project pitches
5. Seek feedback
6. Be realistic
7. Anticipate unanticipated delays
8. Invite different ideas (what is this project going to look like?)
9. Turn competition into collaboration (example of a new technology: PeaceMaker – A Video Game to Promote Peace)
10. Build in assessment
11. Share the journey
Winner: Amy Gahran, Content Strategist and Independent Journalist. Amy started out as a journalist…13 years ago she moved to Boulder, Colorado and created (with Adam Glenn) a “citizen/professional journalism project using innovative web tools and citizen journalism practices to track Boulder, Colo.’s, implementation of a carbon tax.” Her blog can be found at: http://www.contentious.com/
Her thoughts on applying for the Knight News Challenge:
- Not sure your idea can work? Good!
- Don’t over-think your initial application.
- There’s a learning curve with the grant world.
- Have a plan A, B, C, and D — and budget for ALL of them.
- Be honest with yourself.