Google Announces $150,000 GNI Challenge for Africa

• Google Announces $150,000 GNI Challenge for Africa

Google Inc backed program, Google News Initiative (GNI), has announced the commencement of an innovation challenge for nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey.

Ludovic Blecher, Head of Google News Initiative Innovation, who spoke at GNI Innovation Summit in Lagos, said the innovation challenge was a global effort to help journalism thrive digitally.

“We’ve long collaborated with the news industry to drive traffic, increase audience engagement, and generate revenue, but there are legitimate questions about how high-quality journalism can be sustained in the digital age. As part of that, we are proud to open applications for the GNI’s first Innovation Challenge in the Middle East, Africa & Turkey,” Ludovic Blecher stated.

Traditional publishers, media start-ups and group looking to build innovative digital hub/media are encouraged to apply as selected innovation would be awarded $150,000 and funding up to 70 percent of the total project cost.