Online News Association launches $1 million Challenge Fund for Innovation in Journalism Education

The Online News Association launched a $1 million micro-grant contest to help universities and news outlets find new ways of bringing news to local communities. Sponsored by the Knight Foundation, the Excellence and Ethics in Journalism Foundation, the Democracy Fund, and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the competition is open to US-based colleges and universities, in collaboration with local newspapers, television, and radio stations.

Teams of teachers and students will work together with journalists, designers, and local residents on projects that aim to take a fresh look at local news coverage. Irving Washington, ONA’s Director of Operations, said the Challenge Fund organizers considered giving examples of possible projects, but decided not to. It’s more important “for folks to think outside the box and not simply copy something they’ve seen another school do,” he said. (There is, however, a list of resources to provide inspiration and get people started.) The 10 winning projects will be awarded micro-grants of up to $35,000, and teams will also compete for a grand prize of up to $100,000 for the best project.