You invent it, they fund it. Simple as that. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is running a grant competition called the News Challenge. The News Challenge awards up to $5 million for innovative projects that use technology to transform the way communities send, receive and make use of news and information. Applicants must only follow three rules: Use digital, open-source technology (so many of us are already using open source technology) Distribute news in the public interest (hey everything we do is in the public interest!) Fit into one of four categories (Look at number 2, it practically shouts information literacy or news literacy. And number 3, digital media labs anyone?) The four categories – emphasis added by me Mobile: Seeks projects that use mobile devices to produce, deliver, consume, share and otherwise engage with news. The category reflects the fact that the mobile phone, with 5 billion units in use, has become an important tool for news. Authenticity: Looks for projects that help people better understand the reliability of news and information sources. We’re hoping to identify promising ideas for helping citizens negotiate our oft-chaotic media world. How can we help news users better evaluate the validity
