Accelerating innovation and new solutions for local news in the Asia Pacific region, the Google News Initiative (GNI) today announced funding for nine projects focused on collaborative journalism, sustainable business models and improving the quality of information.
The projects, led by various organizations across the region, include initiatives such as:
* **Building a Collaborative Journalism Network in Southeast Asia** led by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, which aims to create a regional network of independent media outlets to share resources, investigate cross-border issues, and amplify local voices.
* **Developing a Sustainable Business Model for Local News in the Philippines** led by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, which seeks to create a self-sustaining revenue model for local news organizations through a combination of reader revenue, advertising, and grants.
* **Improving the Quality of Information in Indonesia** led by the Indonesian Fact-Checking Network, which aims to combat misinformation and disinformation by establishing a fact-checking network and training journalists in fact-checking techniques.
In addition to these three projects, GNI is also funding six other initiatives across the region:
* **Collaborative Journalism for Environmental Reporting in the Asia Pacific** led by the Asia-Pacific Journalism Center
* **Data-Driven Investigations in the Pacific Islands** led by the University of the South Pacific
* **Local News Innovation in Bangladesh** led by the Media Development Initiative
* **Revitalizing Local News in Rural India** led by the Digital Empowerment Foundation
* **Improving the Quality of Local News in Sri Lanka** led by the Sri Lanka Press Institute
* **Supporting Local News Media in Pakistan** led by the Center for Excellence in Journalism.
“We are excited to support these projects and the organizations behind them as they work to strengthen local news in the Asia Pacific region,” said Irene Jay Liu, Head of GNI for Asia Pacific. “These projects represent a diverse range of solutions to the challenges faced by local news, and we believe they will have a positive impact on the quality and sustainability of local news in the region.”
In addition to funding, GNI will provide the selected projects with mentorship, training, and access to Google’s resources and technology. The projects will be implemented over the next 12 months, and GNI will track their progress and impact.
The Google News Initiative is a global effort to support quality journalism, with a particular focus on local news. Through a combination of funding, training, and partnerships, GNI aims to help journalists and news organizations succeed in the digital age.
For more information about the Google News Initiative, please visit https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/.
