Google has launched a global emergency fund for local news publishers through the Google News Initiative to support small and medium-sized news organizations producing news for local communities. News publishers have been the hard-hit with the downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund will support the production of original news for the local communities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. For most of the organizations, media buying and advertising have collapsed drastically, and most of them are not able to sustain themselves for more extended periods.
“Local news is a vital resource for keeping people and communities connected in the best of times. This initiative will provide an easily accessible source of financing in the critical times,” said Google News vice president Richard Gingras.
“Today, it plays an even greater function in reporting on local lockdowns or shelter at home orders, school and park closures, and data about how Covid-19 is affecting daily life.”
Applications for the funding are ongoing and will close on April 29th where google will do an eligibility assessment. Funding will be in one installment in either US dollars or Euros, ranging from a few thousand for small newsrooms to tens of thousands for larger newsrooms.
The fund targets newsrooms that are operating from two full-time employees up to 100 full-time employees. Local publishers with more than 100 staff members will be considered at Google’s discretion.
Multiple funding applications from different publications within the same publishing group. Will be permitted on the basis that each publication can only submit one request.
Eligibility requirements
- organizations must be based in one of the picked out geographies.
- Eligible applicants need to have a focus on core news provision.
- Eligible applicants can include for-profit or nonprofit traditional news organizations, digital natives, radio and TV broadcasters.
- Government-owned entities and individuals are not eligible to apply.
Google news initiative regions
The regions include Africa and the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, North and Latin America.