Burundian Media RegionWeek Ltd is a recipient of Google News Initiative Innovation Challenges 2022
Special Edition
Dear RegionWeek Readers,
It was announced on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Burundi-based Digital Media RegionWeek Ltd is a recipient of Google’s 3rd Middle East, Turkey and Africa Innovation Challenge launched in February 2022. RegionWeek Ltd known for its Weekday Briefing service, with Google support will build and launch the very first crowdfunding platform dedicated to journalists and content creators in Burundi and across the Region.
“In a context where financial pressures are stifling quality journalism with traditional news outlets having a hard time funding the processing of quality news, we proposed a project that will help journalists and content creators, especially in Burundi where many content monetization strategies remain inaccessible,” said Fabrice Iranzi, the Ceo and Founder of RegionWeek Ltd.
The 12 months project titled “News Supporters Platform” aim to provide readers with a platform to contribute financially to listed long-format story projects pitched by journalists and other content creators. News Supporters will solve the issue of lack of funding to diversify content created and shared with the audience.
The GNI Innovation Challenges, part of Google’s $300 million commitment to help journalism thrive in the digital age, have seen news innovators across the world step forward with many exciting initiatives demonstrating new thinking.
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“Every Innovation Challenge project we support represents the best of the best ideas in advancing digital news media. Applications undergo a rigorous and competitive assessment process. When a project is selected for funding, a wide group of Google employees and industry experts have agreed on a high potential for meaningful impact and inspiration.” – reads the announcement
According to Ludovic Blecher the Head of Innovation at Google News Initiative, the call for applications listed five criteria: impact on the news ecosystem; innovation; diversity, equity, and inclusion; inspiration; and feasibility – and the chosen projects clearly demonstrated all five. After a rigorous review, a round of interviews, and a final jury selection process, 34 projects were selected from 17 countries to receive $3.2 million in funding.
It should be noted that In the East African Community only 8 projects will be supported in Kenya, DRC, and Burundi.
“We will be embarking on the projects later this summer and we will work closely with Journalists and content creators. We will share more details throughout the process. News supporters will give a chance for new voices to be heard, by leveraging the mobile money payment, content creators will be supported, media will diversify and increase the reach with fresh and original content. We believe that we will get more support to make this project a success” concluded Mr. Iranzi
About Google News Initiative
The Google News Initiative works alongside publishers and journalists to create a more sustainable, diverse, and innovative news ecosystem. It empowers news organizations around the world to pioneer new thinking in online journalism, develops new paths to sustainability, and better understand their communities.
About RegionWeek
RegionWeek is a Burundi-based media outlet for a new generation of change-makers in Africa, a platform dedicated to chronicling the journey to freedom and empowerment. RegionWeek publishes content that targets Business leaders, Decision-makers, and Young professionals with interests in Burundi and East Africa.
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