The Knight News Challenge accelerates media innovation by funding breakthrough ideas in news and information. Winners receive a share of $5 million in funding and support from Knight’s network of influential peers and advisors to help advance their ideas. The first round of 2013, which opens in February, will invite innovators from all disciplines to focus on tools for open government. In 2012, three challenge rounds, each focused on an emerging trend, drew more than 2,500 entries.
Challenge 1 - on NETWORKS: Winners were announced June 18.
Challenge 2 - on DATA: Winners were announced Sept. 20.
Challenge 3 – on MOBILE: Winners were announced Jan. 17.
Anyone, anywhere can apply for the challenge - whether for-profit start-ups or non-profit ventures. For more information on a variety of topics - from guidelines for for-profits, on intellectual property licensing, open source software and more - visit our FAQ.
1. What is your project? [1 sentence]
My project Mobile Tablets for Information cure uses mobile application
to enhance the right to information and the freedom of information.
2. How will your project use mobile tools and approaches? [2 sentences]
My project will use mobile tools and applications to share information
and to enhance a good system of checks and balances that is required
for a well functioning democracy. This will inspire freedom of
information and augurs well for good governance, create transparency
and free access to public information.
3. Who will use it and why? [1 sentence]
The product of this project will be used by journalist, media, youth
leaders, civil society, NGO, INGO, CBO, Government, Scholars
4. Please list three ways they would learn about your project.
1) Social Media- Facebook/Twitter, Peace and collaborative development
Network (PCDN), Xain, Linkedin. Through maintaining a presence on
social media and through interactive pages on these social medium,
people will learn about and obtain valuable ideas and discuss about
shared experiences and advance resources.
2. Through a network of civil society activist, scholars, people in
the media and journalism around the world who will be invited to that
platform to share best practices and ideas
3) Through not for profit organizations that can also identify with
the project in their communities and join the network
5. What connections have you made, or will you make, with others
[communities, organizations or networks] about your project? [2
sentences]
I have made connections with the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) and Fellows and alumni, The International Young Professionals
Foundation
(IYPF), The Jeanne Sauve Scholars Foundation in Montreal Canada, The
Coady International –Africa-Canada Youth Leadership Symposium Alumni,
The Youth Leadership In Sierra Leone, The Inaugural Oxford World
Ethics Forum Youth Leaders Alumni, and the World Innovation Summit for
Education, The Anti Corruption Commissions, Society for Democratic
Initiatives, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, the National
Telecommunications Company in Sierra Leone.
6. What part of the project have you already built? [1-2 sentences,
feel free to include links]
The project is in the idea stages and we have already floated the idea
across to our network and identified a mobile application developer to
be part of the team and shared the idea to develop the mobile platform
which will provide a great leverage that can be used to enforce the
right to information via mobile application and tools
7. What does success for your project look like? [1-2 sentences]
The success of my project will mean, providing up-to date mobile
application tools that enhances the access to and freedom of
information to the public, and raise the quality of democracy and
strengthens civic participation. Bringing information at a lightening
speed and on the tip of myriad fingers through the mobile platform,
that synchronizes with social media in a way that strengthens people’s
ability to get open access to information, participate in governance
process and democracy, and which creates a sound investment in better
policy making and contribute to public trust and confidence in
government.
8. What resources do you need to succeed? [1-2 sentences]
My project will require an mobile application developer, consultants
in media, free speech and democracy to create the product, as well as
the technical and financial resources to take the work to the next
level.
Additional details:
Please list who is on your team:
1.Andrew Benson Greene (Founder and CEO of B-Gifted Foundation (ITU Fellow)
2. Bipin B. Agravat, Willager, Entrepreneurial Innovator, CEO
www.willager.com: Web, Mobile, Space Technology+Startup Strategist
Consultant.
3. Sarika Jain (Consultant). Bain And Company
4. Archel Francisco (Web Consultant)
5. Abass victor Osman Kamara (Human Rights Director)
6.Ashie S. Hirji (Gem of Life).
Expected number of months to complete project: 24 months
Estimated Project Cost: $580,000
Name: Andrew Benson Greene,
Twitter: @bgifted
Email address: b.giftedfoundation@gmail.com
Organization [if applicable]: B-Gifted Foundation
City: Freetown
Country: Sierra Leone
How did you learn about the contest? Through the PCDN email alert
