Google investing $5 million to encourage innovation in digital journalism

By Chris Hogg

Google has announced it’s giving away $5 million in grants to non-profit organizations that are developing new approaches to journalism in the digital age.

“Journalism is fundamental to a functioning democracy,” writes Nikesh Arora, President, Global Sales Operations and Business Development. “As media organizations globally continue to broaden their presence online, we’re eager to play our part on the technology side—experimenting with new ways of presenting news online; providing tools like Google Maps and YouTube Direct to make websites more engaging for readers; and investing heavily in our digital platforms to enable publishers to generate more revenue.”

So far, $2 million was granted to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to support programs and innovation in journalism. The Knight Foundation will use $1 million to support US grant-making and the other $1 million will be put toward the Knight News Challenge, a program that accepts funding proposals from anyone, anywhere in the world, until December 1.

“We’re eager to do even more internationally, so we will be investing the remaining $3 million in journalism projects in other countries through a similar partnership,” said Arora. “Stay tuned for more details early next year.”

According to a press release, the Knight Foundation says it has invested more than $100 million in media innovation initiatives over the last five years. The money has gone toward innovation in national media policies, technology, public media transformation and the Internet.

The Knight Foundation has welcomed Google into the mix of organizations working toward innovation in digital journalism.

“This is an enormously important vote of confidence by the industry leader, said Alberto Ibargüen, President of Knight Foundation. “We welcome Google’s support. The free flow of information is essential to a democratic society.  Already, more Americans get their information from the Internet than from newspapers.  That trend will only intensify, making it imperative for our democracy that we find ways to effectively deliver the news and information people require on the new, digital platforms.”

Below is a video in which Knight Foundation President, Alberto Ibargüen, talks about Google’s donation of $2 million to support Knight Foundation’s media innovation efforts: