The International Press Institute (IPI) has satisfactorily concluded the second phase of the IPI News Innovation Contest, reviewing more than 300 applications from around the world.
Criteria such as the innovation level of the project, the proposed budget, sustainability and the project’s contribution to press freedom online were key aspects in the evaluation process, leaving a total of 71 projects still in the running.
The next phase of the Contest consists of submitting a detailed proposal and/or answering questions related to the project before 31 August 2011, 15:00 Central European Time (CET). Afterward, the projects will be shortlisted again in order to be delivered to the organization’s Advisory Board.
“The IPI News Innovation Contest closes one chapter today and now opens a new one. It was really a difficult task sorting through so many good applications,” said José Otárola-Silesky, IPI’s grants officer.
“We are very excited about how the Contest will change the lives of the eventual winners and the media they will serve through their innovative projects,” added IPI Director Alison Bethel McKenzie.
Applicants who did not manage to continue in the selections process will have the opportunity to submit a new project or a better structured proposal in the future, once the calls for 2011/12 have been completed.
The winners of the IPI News Innovation Contest will be contacted by the end of October after careful consideration by both IPI and the organisation’s Advisory Board. The contest was initiated by Google Inc. with a grant of $2.7 million US dollars.