Photo: Flickr.com/photos/teachandlearn/ Cross-posted from NewsChallenge.org Getting feedback on your application is important; it will definitely improve your idea and increase the chances of your project moving forward in the contest.

The first thing you should do is draft your submission. Be as clear and concise as possible. Once you have the draft ready read it a few more times and edit it. Try to get rid of jargon and technical terms. Make it simple and to the point.

Once you feel ready for submission, let a few friends read your application. If they think everything is clear and do not have any questions you are ready to submit and receive public feedback.

(Public feedback only applies if you submit an open entry. We do not have a preference for open or closed entries, we evaluate entries in both categories the same way). Posting your application for public comment early will allow you to benefit from the wisdom of the crowd. You will be able to receive feedback and ideas that you can incorporate into your application. Or you will receive questions that will allow you to see in what parts of your submission you need more clarity.

Once your application is public you can also poke your social networks and ask everyone in them to give you feedback.

If you have questions please tweet them to #KNC, ping us @knightfdn @jczamora @jsb, or send us an e-mail at: newschallenge[at]knightfoundation[dot]org.