The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit foundation dedicated to the news industry. Since 1950 the foundation has granted more than $300 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression. The foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change.
The Knight News Challenge contest awards $5 million for innovative media ideas, however the October 15 application deadline is quickly approaching. The streamlined application takes less than 20 minutes. Anybody worldwide has a chance to win. For more information and to apply visit www.newschallenge.org.
Last year, Drupal contributors Benjamin Melançon and Lisa Williams were both awarded grants.
In particular, the Knight Foundation is looking for open source projects that improve local communities and have a news focus. The only restrictions for applying are outlined in their FAQ. Your proposal must be:
* Digital – Your idea uses digital technology (computers, the internet, cell phones, that sort of thing).
* Innovative – Your idea is new and original. It’s different from what people have done before. You are, in some way, breaking new ground.
* News/information – Your idea is about giving people access to what they want to know.
* Timely – Your idea delivers news or information while it’s still fresh.
* Community-building – Your idea helps create a sense of community among some group of individuals.
* Limited geographic area – Your idea affects people in a specific area, which could be as big as a state or province, or as small as a city block. (If your idea is national or worldwide in scope, it must work at a regional level.)
* Open Source – The inner workings of what you create will be visible to the world, so that others can take it and improve upon it.
If you are interested in applying, please read the information provided. After that, you may send me a note if you have any questions.
And, yes, I'm applying, and it's Drupal-related.
Comments
Thanks for the reminder...
Thanks for the reminder... I've been sitting on two proposals for the last two months but kept having to postpone them! (Something about buying a house, getting married, and flying to Barcelona to meet you and tour La Sagrada Familia just keeps you busy. ; )
Anyways, let me give a heart +1 to this idea. The more money they grant toward Drupal development, the better... it's happened before, and I'm hoping it happens again.
----------------------
Drupal by Wombats | Current Drupal project: http://www.ubercart.org
Marriage
You're going to let a little thing like marriage stand in the way of Drupal development?
Well, me too.
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
Excited about the possibilities...
I've applied for a grant, a bit ambitious, but I'm hoping for the best. I'm in the Young Creators category so I hope that helps. I'm crossing my fingers...
Young Creators
For those of you who didn't read all the information of the Knight web site, there are three categories for grants:
Young Creators is specifically for funding creators under age 25, and is in partnership with MTV.
http://www.newschallenge.org/questions.html#30
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
How to apply
I tried to register at
http://apply.newschallenge.org
but never got the promised mail to confirm.
Any ideas or comments?
Try again?
I didn't have any trouble. Perhaps your spam filter blocked the confirmation?
There is a contact link on the FAQ page, but it's JS popup, so I can't link to it.
http://www.newschallenge.org/questions.html
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
Tearsheet
For you last-minute entrants, you can view my application here for some style pointers:
Tearsheet: reverse publishing module for the Drupal open-source platform.
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
Guess I can post my link
Guess I can post my link here, too... mean to blog about it later, but let's see if I make it past round 2 first. ; )
Drupal Advanced Survey Module (with geo-specific reports/results maps)
----------------------
Drupal by Wombats | Current Drupal project: http://www.ubercart.org
Drupal related project in Africa
If you'ld like to support us, vote for us!
Creation and implementation of multimedia training in Cape Verde and with this the launch the first Creole news and social community on and offline:
http://generalapp.newschallenge.org/snc/ViewItem.aspx?pguid=57adbabf-533...
Thank you!
wow.! exciting!!..but no any
wow.! exciting!!..but no any interest!..
__________________________________
http://www.evance.name
http://www.qqschool.net
I applied
Well, I applied, but I did it at the last minute so I never got to see my proposal up there. Pity they don't leave them up so you can still continute to get comments on it even after the deadline has passed. I'm always looking for feedback on my site.
Michelle
--------------------------------------
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out life in the Coulee Region.
No dice
I got my rejection letter today. Guess I'm out. Anyone else hear?
Michelle
--------------------------------------
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out life in the Coulee Region.
Two
I have two proposals moving to the second round of review.
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
Drupal Association might want to apply next year
Thanks for the reminder.
After going through the proposal process, I think that the Drupal Association may be able to apply (360 days left). Knight has some very specific requirements, including location specific and news/information oriented submissions. Examples may include: editor specific authentication for books (support local news agencies for books), gps/cell phone integration (mobile reporter, opps - did that), Yahoo Pipes module (geoRSS feed publisher).
James
http://FatAtlas.com
Yes
I think, under the terms of the Knight Foundation, that the Drupal Assocation might be able to make a compelling case for being issued a grant.
It's a shame we didn't think to apply for all of Gabor & company working on i18n and i10n issues, which might be compelling to the Knight jury.
There are other cases like this that spring to mind -- especially for outreach training in developing countries, or seminars or training materials for new users.
The initial KF grant program is 5 years ($25M US), so you'll have three more chances to apply.
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
I applied for a project that
I applied for a project that would add functionality to Date, Calendar, and CCK, and I've been asked to submit a more detailed proposal. So we'll see where it goes from here :)
Yay Karen!
Congrats for getting to the second round. Lots of luck!
Michelle
--------------------------------------
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out life in the Coulee Region.
Key
Part of the key to the application process is stressing how these improvement will specifically benefit local communities.
With date/calendar improvements, that seems a fairly easy argument to make.
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
Agreed. At least one of my
Agreed. At least one of my proposals made it through (survey module w/ geo-specific reporting), and I tried to put as much in as I could relating the benefits to journalism sites and possibilities for different types of local and community organizations. Would be much fun to work on if it makes it through. : )
----------------------
Drupal by Wombats | Current Drupal project: http://www.ubercart.org
Geospecific Surveys
rszrama,
Congratulations on making it to the second round.
James
FatAtlas.com
Yeah...
My proposal only benefits my local community. Ah, well, it's not going to stop me. I'll just continue working with no budget. :)
Michelle
--------------------------------------
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out life in the Coulee Region.
Sometimes that's enough, but
Sometimes that's enough, but in those cases I think it helps if your approach is novel in some way.
Just running a blog or news site about a local community isn't quite enough. They funded two or three projects similar to Coulee Region last year, and it will be interesting to see if any get through this year.
--
http://ken.blufftontoday.com/
http://new.savannahnow.com/user/2
Search first, ask good questions later.
Did they?
Damn, wish I could have applied last year, then.
My plans are bigger than just a blog/news site. I'm melding a complete area information guide, business directory, and events calendar with web 2.0 social networking features and geotagging. It's going to be really cool when it's done, but it's a lot of work for one person. I was hoping to get a grant to hire out some of the design since I'm more a coder than designer. I'll just have to go back to my original plan of finding someone willing to work for advertising space once the site gets popular. :)
Michelle
--------------------------------------
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out life in the Coulee Region.
Great to hear
Karen,
Congrats on making it to the next round. ;)
Have you been able to log into your account at the foundation so you can start the next step?
James
FatAtlas.com
Nope
Nope, can't get that to work. I sent them an email asking for help, but I assume they're still busy finishing up responses to the initial round.
Did you make it? Have you been able to log in?
Yep - Nope
Yes, I'm onto the second round. (Reporting Live: mobile phone + GPS + camera) on Drupal.
No, I have not been able to login yet. Like you, I sent them a note, but I'm sure they are swamped right now.
James
FatAtlas.com
Aware of Problem
I have just received a response. They are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. When I know more I will post it here.
James
FatAtlas.com
Signing In
I now have been able to gain access to the next phase
go here: http://apply.newschallenge.org
I am either presented with a login screen or taken directly to screen to select which proposal to work on. Good Luck.
James
http://FatAtlas.com
Still no news?
I applied last monday, got the confirmation email that they received my proposition, but got no denial / approval email. Should I wait some more?
---
Biology Articles
---
e! Science News
Same here: I applied Monday
Same here: I applied Monday morning, the 15th and didn't receive a denial/approval mail yet. Since they seem to send e-mails also to people whose proposal doesn't get appoved, I'd wait some more.
Don't hate the media, be the media -- www.indymedia.be
On to the second round
So I guess I'm also onto the next round with my concept for an "Open Local News" module(s) and theme. Good thing I'm going to this Nov lullabot conference, so that I can make sure my skills aren't too rusty.