Google rewards technological journalism innovation

INTERNET SEARCH GIANT Google has given the International Press Institute (IPI) a $2.7 million grant designed to reward "breakthrough ideas" in modern journalism that make the most of mobile and open source technology.

The money will be used by the IPI in its Innovation Contest, which has been set up to advance the future of public-interest digital news distribution in Europe, Middle East and Africa; places where trusted news services are becoming fewer and farther between.

"Journalism is an immensely important part of our societies. In the era of the Internet it's important that innovation in journalism continues to flourish and we're keen to help encourage that," said Peter Barron, Google's director of external relations for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"We're very pleased to be working on this project with the IPI, an organisation which has a great history of addressing the issues that affect journalism."

In order for projects to be considered for an award they must fall into three categories, which are News Platform, Sustainability and Training, all of which sound like they are more about the medium than the message.

Google added that the News Platform entries will be commended for embracing new ways of disseminating information that is trustworthy, and it is here that the open source and mobile entries may be most keenly welcomed. It added that this is crucial to democracy - with an eye on Egypt and Tunisia as it said it.

"In this time of global change and conflict, free flows of information have never been more important", said Alison McKenzie, acting director of the IPI.

"A free press empowers people, and a thriving, independent, innovative news industry is vital to any country's development. We are proud to play our part in fostering innovation to ensure that the news continues to hold up a mirror to the societies it is meant to serve."

The competition is open to both profit and non profit organisations. µ