American University of Nigeria

In partnership with Google, African media owners last month kicked off African News Innovation Challenge, a competition geared towards helping journalists to harness their talents and realize how the internet can be helpful to their careers.

Entries for the competition began on the May 10 and will end on July 10, with finalists to be announced on August 10th and winners announced at the African Media Leaders Forum in Ivory Coast on November 10. See http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/supporting-innovation-in-african-news.html.

Finalists will attend the Open News Camp in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in August. There they will receive help and training intended to further develop their ideas.

The lead partner in the challenge, The African Media Initiative, is the continent’s largest association of media owners. Its vision is to strengthen the private and independent media sector in Africa, according to http://africannewschallenge.org/, the website dedicated to the competition.

Journalists will use the Internet, mobile platforms, data-driven journalism, computer-assisted reporting, digitally augmented reality, and other electronic means to enhance the way journalism is practiced in Africa.

Grants ranging from $12,500 to $100,000 will be awarded to winners, along with a chance to unveil their ideas on an international platform. Winners will also have opportunities to present their proposals to venture capitalist funds, which could lead to more funding for their projects.

Other partners in the challenge include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Omidyar Network, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the U.S. State Department, the Konrad Adenhauer Stiftung and the World Association of Newspapers & News Producers.

Interested members of the AUN community are encouraged to participate in the competition.

ANIC is open to all as long as they have an African partner to help with implementation. The competition is open to nonprofits, for-profits, or individuals of any age, but awards to minors will be made to an intermediary designated by ANIC.