Google Donates $2.7 Million To Fund Innovation in Journalism

Google announced Wednesday it has awarded $2.7 million to the International Press Institute to foster innovation in journalism.

The Institute, based in Vienna, will use the grant for its IPI News Innovation Contest, which will fund both non-profit and for-profit projects related to the development of digital news platforms, new business models for journalism and training in digital reporting throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

The $2.7 million makes up a significant chunk of the $5 million Google promised to donate to non-profit organizations working to further development in digital journalism in October 2010.

At the time, Google awarded $2 million to the Knight Foundation in the U.S. and pledged to spend the remaining $3 million in international news efforts. Like the International Press Institute, the Knight Foundation funds open-source projects related to innovation in digital and mobile reporting, new economic models for news and community development.

Applications for the IPI News Innovation Content are due June 1, 2011.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, ProfessorVasilich

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