Poynter International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) Innovation Fund 2019 ( 50,000 USD in grants)

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:

1. Formats
2. Business models
3. 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:

1. Mark Stencel: co-director of the Duke Reporters’ Lab and its Tech & Check Cooperative.
2. Mariano Blejman: Founder of Media Factory news accelerator. Founder of Media Party, the biggest mediathon in Latin America.
3. Laura Hazard Owen: Deputy Editor of Nieman Journalism Lab at The Nieman Foundation at Harvard University.
4. Mariana Santos: founder and CEO of Chicas Poderosas, a non-profit organization that aims to bring more women into technology;
5. 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:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Poynter International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) Innovation Fund 2019