Do you have a big idea for informing and inspiring community using bits and bytes? Cell phone documentaries? New operating software for news collectors? Journalism games? Nothing is too far out to  qualify. With the slogan “You Invent It. We Fund It!” the contest is open to community-minded innovators worldwide, from software designers to journalist to citizens and students of any age.

The Knight News Challenge contest aims to use digitally delivered news and information to enhance
    physical communities and improve the lives of people where they live, work and vote.  “Jim and Jack Knight fostered community through their newspapers,” said Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “The Knight News
Challenge hopes to discover innovative ways of using cyberspace to bring communities together.”

The first year of the contest concluded with grants to 25 individuals and private and public entities ranging from MIT to MTV. Some first-year winning projects included:

• New software that links databases, allowing citizens to learn (and act on) civic information about their neighborhood or block.
• Cell phone distribution of video news reportsfrom mobile young journalists on the 2008 presidential election.
• Online games to inform and engage players about key issues confronting New York City.
• An online environment which lets citizens “play”through a complex, evolving news story through interaction with the newsmakers.
• Digital newscasts for Philadelphia’s immigrant community distributed through a new citywide wireless platform.

Winning entries must have three elements: 1) use of a digital media; 2) delivery of news or information on a shared basis to 3) a geographically defined community.  Although there is a category for commercial applications, most entries are “open-source” and must share the software and knowledge created. 

This year, for the first time, the web site – www.newschallenge.org – also will allow entrants to invite public comment that will help improve their entries.

“Virtual communities spring up every day. They don’t need our help. Geographic communities are the building blocks of democracy. They do need help,” said Gary Kebbel, Knight journalism program officer and the contest’s coordinator.

The foundation plans to invest at least $25 million over five years in the search for bold community
    news experiments.

A simple online entry form is available at www.newschallenge.org. The web site will accept applications through Oct. 15. Winners should be announced by the spring of 2008.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellenceworldwide and in the vitality of the U.S. communities. Since 1950 the
    foundation has granted more than $300 million to advance quality journalism and
    freedom of expression. It focuses on projects with the potential to create
transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.