About
The Knight News Challenge is a contest run by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which has earmarked $25 million over a five-year period.
As much as $5 million will be given away this year. Anyone can apply.
The goal is to spur innovation in the delivery of information and news using digital media.
We’re looking for smart, innovative solutions that connect people with the news and information that matters to them most.
To that end, we have created this Garage site, which is a place for prospective applicants to share their ideas and receive comments from peers, as well as coaching from program mentors (past winners and current screeners), before submitting applications.
In the spirit of collaboration, everything on this Garage site is open and public. Everyone can see comments on the different proposals, which we call projects (you do need to create an account to leave comments).
Questions? Start with the FAQ. You can also send an e-mail through the contact page.
Want to work with a specific mentor below? Let us know through the contact form (choose 'request mentor' in the drop-down list).
News Challenge Mentors
About the Team
Susan Mernit is the co-founder of People's Software Company, a start-up building a better way to meet up and schedule on the go, a BlogHer contributing editor on Sex & Relationships, a former exec at Yahoo, AOL, Netscape and Advance Internet, and a dedicated blogger. She is also the program manager for the 2008-09 Knight News Challenge; talk to her about applying for grants to build open source community projects that support news, discourse and the commons.
Kristen Taylor is the online community manager for the Knight Foundation. She also helped build this garage (let her know what you think through the contact form). Kristen enjoys hearing new ideas, living in Miami, and blogging about food.
Jose Zamora is a member of the journalism program at Knight Foundation. He is constantly looking for great projects and new ideas. He screens projects, develops grants and monitors them. This is his second year working on the Knight News Challenge program. Jose writes a blog on Guatemalan politics and policy and a column in a Guatemalan newspaper. He has a background in law, journalism and public administration.
