Getting The Story
News Gathering
New tools and strategies for reporters in the field, from mobile apps for citizen journalists to forensic analysis software for investigative editors.
Making It Real
Story Telling
Breathing life and context into news, from multi-media / cross-platform narratives, to data visualisation and augmented reality.
Breaking Down Barriers
Audience Engagement
Making news matter, by making it hyperlocal and hyperpersonal and social, or by giving audiences a voice, or by helping media understand audiences.
Knowledge Economy
Business Of News
Pioneering new revenue streams or business models, or just better ways to scale news products or streamline production / dissemination costs.
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2012 Winners |
COMPETITION LAUNCH10 May 2012 |
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SUBMISSION DEADLINE10 July 2012 |
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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED10 September 2012 |
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WINNERS ANNOUNCED27 November 2012 |
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
This innovation challenge focuses on journalism and the news media.
We are looking for disruptive digital ideas for improving the way that news is collected and disseminated.
By digital ideas, we mean tools or strategies that use the Internet, mobile platforms, data driven journalism, computer assisted reporting, digitally augmented reality, or other electronic means to improve the relevance and impact of news media.
Your ideas should be focused on providing pragmatic solutions to realworld challenges facing Africa’s media.
Your innovation should fall into any of four broad categories: news gathering; story telling; audience engagement; or the business of news.
Within these categories, we are specifically interested in ideas that seek to achieve one or more of the following goals:
PlatformsStrengthen existing media platforms, or harness new digital platforms for engaging audiences and transmitting news other journalistic content. |
DeliveryImprove the way news reaches audiences, from traditional circulation / airtime management to newer disruptive ‘cross platform’ channels. |
ContextAmplify the relevance and usefulness of news by improving the immediacy, depth and accuracy of journalistic content. |
ReachEnhance the impact and ’shelf life’ of news by extending its influence and intrinsic value for both audiences and content services. |
TargetingDeepen media’s understanding of its audiences and markets by improving user analytics, audience profiling and market segmentation. |
SustainablityBoost the media’s resource base by diversifying business models, developing new revenue streams or improving operational efficiencies. |
FIND AN AFRICAN PARTNER
PEOPLE + IDEAS
WHAT WE FUND
We fund news experiments and digital media startups. This means that we will fund the costs associated with developing, testing and scaling a new digital news venture or product. We will not fund conferences, training workshops, nor the salary or operational costs for existing organisations, nor university administration fees, nor other routine business costs.
FINALISTS WORKSHOP
Finalists will be invited to the OpenNews Camp in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in September for one-on-one workshop sessions with business development mentors and other industry experts. Finalists will use these sessions to refine and strengthen their proposals, as well as develop implementation plans and budgets ahead of final judging.
SUPPORTING THE WINNERS
Winners will receive cash grants of between $12,000 and $100,000, plus additional business development support, technical mentorship, and marketing support. Winners may also be offered opportunities to pilot their projects in AMI member newsrooms and showcase the results at international conferences or to venture capital funds.
PARTNERS
