Knight News Challenge: Data

The Knight News Challenge on Data is now open for ideas through 5 p.m. ET Sept. 30. This News Challenge, our 14th, reflects Knight Foundation’s ongoing support for projects that use data for good to inform and empower people to make decisions about their lives, communities and democracy.

In collaboration with Data & Society and the Open Society Foundations, we are seeking projects that provide an answer to the question:

How might we make data work for individuals and communities?

Winners will receive a share of $3 million, and we’re seeking ideas from anyone—journalists, startups, civic hackers, academics, media organizations, nonprofits, governments, individuals and more. The challenge is intended to create opportunities to analyze, collect, present, interpret and share data to increase transparency, enhance privacy and security, and improve journalism and storytelling techniques.

Here are the main stages of the challenge: 

• Entries: Sept. 8 to Sept. 30 (5 p.m. ET). Apply at newschallenge.org.

• Feedback: Oct. 1 to Oct. 20. Ideas are open to feedback from our official reviewers and the public. Comment at newschallenge.org.

• Refinement: Oct. 21 to 28. We select semifinalists and ask them to provide more information.

• Evaluation: Begins Oct. 29. We, along with outside advisers, review the semifinalists, select the finalists and conduct interviews. We will announce the winners in early 2016.

Over the next few weeks we will provide opportunities, both in person and virtually, for you to ask questions about the challenge. We’ll be everywhere from San Francisco to New York. Our virtual office hours will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 17, 23 and 29. You can access the meetings online using ID 451 981 706 or participate via phone at 1-888-240-2560.

View this page for a list of events, which we’ll be updating, and follow #newschallenge on Twitter for updates. Also, check out Knight Blog for inspirations from academics, journalists, technologists and more. You can also reach us with questions on Twitter via @knightfdn, @heychrisbarr or @shazna, or via e-mail at [email protected]. You can sign up for News Challenge alerts here.

So how might you use data to work for individuals and communities? As our world becomes increasingly rich with data, it is more important than ever to put data to work to increase engagement to build better communities and a better democracy. Join us to help amplify that potential by submitting an idea, sharing your thoughts and spreading the word.

Chris Barr is director of media innovation and Nina Zenni is a media innovation associate at Knight Foundation. Email them at [email protected] and [email protected]. Follow Chris on Twitter @heychrisbarr.