J-Lab helps journalists and citizens use digital technologies to develop new ways for people to participate in public life with projects on innovations in journalism, citizen media, news games, interactive stories, entrepreneurship, research, training, and publications.

Knight-Batten 2009Deadline Passed!

The winners will be announced at a symposium and luncheon at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 17, 2009.

J-Lab will again reward innovative ideas, large and small - multimedia advances, new participatory journalism ideas or novel ways to engage audiences in important issues. "Big-J" and "Small-J" ideas encouraged. Grand Prize is $10,000; $5,000 in Special Distinction and Wild Card Awards; $1,000 Citizen Media Award.

Last year's innovators revealed corporate whitewashing of Wikipedia entries, helped people map political violence in Kenya, separated fact from falsehood in the presidential campaign, and delivered hyperlocal coverage of development in the District of Columbia's most neglected quadrant. See 2008 winners and notables.

image2008 New Voices Grantees Launch

Several 2008 New Voices grantees have launched Web sites for their projects:

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Playing the News

On Sept. 11, 2008, J-Lab hosted several news gaming pioneers for a workshop with the Online News Association convention. Their work is available in the Games category of Cool Stuff:

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PhotoCitizen Media Entrepreneurial Ventures

Around the world, ordinary people are contributing photos, video and their own stories to the news and information landscape. From placeblogs to hyperlocal Web sites, these ventures are gaining momentum. J-Lab spotlighted some examples at the 2008 UNITY Convention.
Check out audio highlights and slideshows.

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Check out the Women Entrepreneur Blogs

Three McCormick New Media Women Entrepreneurs received $10,000 from J-Lab to launch innovative news ventures. Check out their blogs at NewMediaWomen.org.

Echo, a system of public storytelling installations in Atlanta. Led by Lila King and Karyn Lu.

Latina Voices, a news site for and by Latinas. Led by Teresa Puente, Columbia College Chicago journalism professor.

Northwest Navy News, a networking site for Puget Sound's military community. Led by Elaine Helm Norton, new media editor at The Daily Herald, Everett, Wash.

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New Media Makers Toolkit

New Media Makers coverCheck out "New Media Makers: A Toolkit for Innovators in Community Media and Grant Making." See case studies, videos and resources with lessons from new media makers and their funders. Search the database of 180 foundations that have contributed nearly $128 million to news initiatives since 2005.

Go to the toolkit...

 

Blogically Thinking

Meet the New Media Makers

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Is it important for news to survive - or news organizations? See today’s New York Times for a sampling of opinions.

Many news organizations are going to fail this year. But I believe local and regional news vacuums are going to be filled - and filled robustly.

Read more...

     

E-Learning Portals

Knight Citizen News Network
J-New Voices
J-Learning
New Media Women Entrepreneurs

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Latest Activity

J-Lab funds 8 projects

Up to $25,000 each for 2009 New Voices grantees.
April 21, '09. Release

Guide to FOI

What you need to know to obtain public records.
Jan. 29, '09. KCNN Module

Playing the News

ONA 2008 pre-convention workshop.
Sept. 11, '08. Video, Audio

J-School Entrepreneurs

Jeff Jarvis' keynote at ONA 2008 panel.
Sept. 11, '08. Audio