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Google offers six-figure grant to innovative smaller publishers

sarah-hartleySmall and medium-sized publishers could win a six-figure sum as part of a Google bid to help create a sustainable future for news.

The Google News Initiative has launched its innovation challenge, which will offer grants of up to 150,000 Euros for newsrooms across Europe to “support novel and innovative approaches to challenges facing the news ecosystem”.

Grants will be given to publishers who come forward with projects such as those that are aimed at increasing revenue streams or exploring new readership models.

It is open to established publishers, online-only players, news startups, collaborative partnerships and freelancers based in Europe. Eligible applicants should have newsrooms with fewer than 50 full-time journalists.

Google News Initiative Innovation Challenges programme manager Sarah Hartley said: “Whether it’s exploring new business models, boosting reader engagement or working with technology to transform newsrooms, news organisations across Europe continue to innovate.

“That’s why we are announcing the first Google News Initiative innovation challenge for the region, designed to provide support for some of the small and medium-sized organizations which provide credible information when it’s needed most.”

Sarah, pictured, added: “We’re looking for news innovators who want to challenge the status quo and take bold steps towards a more diverse and sustainable future.

“The European GNI innovation challenge is an opportunity for small and medium-sized news organisations to stimulate innovation in news.”

Details on how to apply can be found here.