If You Had $50,000, How Would You Change Fact-Checking?

Application for the Poynter IFCN Fact Forward Innovation Fund 2019 is now open. The Poynter International Fact-Checking Network is looking for organisations, teams of journalists, designers, developers or data scientists to submit projects that can represent a paradigmatic innovation for fact-checkers with big ideas in formats, business models and technology-assisted fact-checking.

With Fact Forward, the IFCN will grant $50,000 to the winning project. For this fund, an innovative project is defined as one that provides a distinct, novel user experience that seamlessly integrates content, design, and business strategy. The innovation should serve both the audience and the organisation.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be employed by a fact-checking organisation that is a signatory of the IFCN code of principles or must present a signed memorandum of understanding with one of the verified signatories agreeing on implementing the project together;
• Open to existing fact-checking teams or organisations that seek funding to scale up or launch a new project, as well as experienced journalists with well-developed ideas or prototypes;
• Open to fact-checking projects run by traditional media companies, as well as digital media entrepreneurs. If there is a resulting code of this project, it must be open and it should be public in a GitHub repository;
• The project should be more than just an idea;
• Applicants must be organisations or teams of at least two people who have tested their concept or at least developed a prototype;
• Applications from individuals will be accepted if they are paired with a fact-checking organisation where the project will be implemented in the 12-months time frame.

Judging Criteria

First, the panelists grade from 1 to 3 each one of the applications that qualify for the second round according to six different points of view:

• Is the project an original idea in the fact-checking field and change the way in which information is presented and/or consumed?
• Does the project involve more than one organisation (fact-checking or otherwise) or attempt to implement a solution already proven by another one with its supervision?
• Does the project have the potential of fighting misinformation, improving the quality of the public debate and/or reaching a wider/new audience?
• Does the project have the potential to grow in the future?
• Does the project have the potential to be replicated by other fact-checkers with minor changes and serving its original purpose?
• Is the requested budget in accordance with the goals and scope of the project and have the potential to be fully completed and implemented in time and form?

Application

Interested applicants should apply online on or before  Friday,  March 29, 2019.

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