Application Deadline: May 4th 2019
The International Fact-Checking Network wants to support your next big idea.
IFCN recognize the importance of making innovation a key part of fact-checking in the age of online misinformation and we are also aware that innovation requires investment. For those reasons, we are opening the second Fact Forward funding program. A call for fact-checking organizations and/or teams of journalists, designers, developers or data scientists to submit projects that can represent a paradigmatic innovation for fact-checkers in any of these areas:
- Formats
- Business models
- Technology-assisted fact-checking
With Fact Forward, the IFCN will grant 50,000 USD to the winning project, thanks to a grant from Omidyar Network. You can check out last year’s winner, CheckNews, right here.
For this fund, an innovative project is defined as one that provides a distinct, novel user experience that seamlessly integrates content, design and business strategy. The innovation should serve both the audience and the organization.
Eligible Projects:
Existing fact-checking teams or organizations that seek funding to scale up or launch a new project, as well as experienced journalists with well-developed ideas or prototypes. The fund is open to fact-checking projects run by traditional media companies, as well as digital media entrepreneurs. If there is a resulting code of this project, it must be open and it should be public in a GitHub repository.
Requirements:
Applicants must be employed by a fact-checking organization that is a signatory of the IFCN code of principles or must present a signed memorandum of understanding with one of the verified signatories agreeing on implementing the project together.
A panel of experts will choose the winner. The members of the panel are:
- Mark Stencel: co-director of the Duke Reporters’ Lab and its Tech & Check Cooperative.
- Mariano Blejman: Founder of Media Factory news accelerator. Founder of Media Party, the biggest mediathon in Latin America.
- Laura Hazard Owen: Deputy Editor of Nieman Journalism Lab at The Nieman Foundation at Harvard University.
- Mariana Santos: founder and CEO of Chicas Poderosas, a non-profit organization that aims to bring more women into technology;
- Janine Warner: Co-founder of Sembramedia. Knight Fellow for the International Center for Journalists.
One of those experts and/or a member of the IFCN staff will be available to offer advice during the 12-month development and implementation stage.
How to Apply:
The initial application is through a form that includes, among other information: full name, fact-checking initiative involved, a brief description of the organization responsible for the idea and a project description (250 to 500 words). The second phase will require a more detailed application and also a budget description. It will only be open to applicants that have passed the first round.
For More Information: