Category Archives: Google India Blog

The Official Google Blog for India

Launching the Spot Platform powered by Google Pay

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lD-f59fu4TpMVk3lHdVncFhmB72XwWUsy1uvjzOBuLPAR7h9pu55fsYNALSIsvU5JiQt6RE9AM2bxExJSLRQV2t4s5zg0Ka1bhmrHoXXTsTXqCtM8w5MNQnr7YDZjVq5_K5oYUm4 Ambarish Kenghe Director Google Pay
Enables merchants to create branded commercial experiences that bridge the offline and online worlds.


We launched Google Pay two years ago with the mission of making payments Simple, Secure and universally Accessible for every Indian - whether it’s a tenant paying rent to their landlord or a brother buying gold for his sister on Raksha Bandhan or an entrepreneur selling locally. Google Pay with its conversational UI and machine-learning based fraud protection made it easier and safer for individuals and businesses to connect. Today, there are millions of people who use Google Pay for their daily needs. 
Google Pay’s conversational UI makes it easy                     Fraud detection keeps it safe

But we’re just getting started. One area we have been focusing on is enabling businesses to grow. Say, someone like Parul who owns a chain of sweet shops in Delhi. Parul has a business website but would love to both sell her sweets beyond her neighbourhood and deepen her relationship with her existing walk-in customers. Her customers keep forgetting that she has a website, and building an app which customers would download and keep on their phones, is hard. This challenge isn’t unique to Parul’s business, think of an electronics chain that wants to let you know that the latest phone you’ve been waiting for is back in stock, or an online travel service that wants to send you the itinerary of an upcoming trip. Each of them want to build customized and branded experiences, where customers can discover, buy and engage directly with a business without having to install an app, create new accounts or share payment details with every business they use. 

That’s why, today, we’re launching the Spot Platform powered by Google Pay that enables merchants to create branded commercial experiences that bridge the offline and online worlds. 

A Spot is a digital front for a business that is created, branded and hosted by them, and powered by Google Pay. Users can discover a Spot online or at a physical location, and transact with the merchant easily and securely within the Google Pay app. The Google Pay app also surfaces the relevant Spot to the user when they need it, directly on the homescreen. This means that someone’s favourite restaurant Spot might show up around lunchtime, or the cab booking Spot might show up before your morning commute. Users can also easily share a Spot on the Google Pay app or on their favorite messaging app.
Search, select, pay and track your order right within Google Pay

Offline-Online and everything in between
But, what is unique to the Spot Platform is how it brings the online to the physical world. Businesses with a physical presence can place a ‘Spot Code’ at specific locations. Customers can scan this Spot Code or tap (for NFC enabled phones) on it to go straight into the business’s Spot on Google Pay. This works because Spot Codes are a combination of a custom visual code and an NFC tag. Just scan or tap and you’re in the Spot. Yep, it’s that simple! 
Discover Google Pay Spot Codes offline to be taken online

Quick, easy, light. Made with love for HTML and Javascript
A Spot is built using HTML & Javascript so developers can leverage their existing investments into mobile websites or progressive web apps (PWA) and transform it into a Spot,  by just adding a few lines of Javascript. This makes it possible for a merchant to have a truly scalable solution while keeping their digital experience consistent.

Enabling connections, not just transactions
We understand that discovery is where it starts, but building deep connections is what matters the most - a connection that doesn’t just end with a payment, but extends to effective post sale engagement. The Spot Platform helps merchants own this relationship by providing a conversational framework, so that order updates, offers, and recommendations can easily be surfaced to the customer. This is powered by our Order API which is specialised to provide real time tracking for delivery orders, and the Messaging API which can surface relevant messages post checkout to the user. 

Primitives done right
The Spot Platform provides APIs for things like identity and payment management that have been developed based on user and partner feedback and learnings from the last two years of developing Google Pay in India (originally called Tez). They provide frictionless UX for key actions like sign in, payments and sharing. For the merchant, this makes the development process faster, and helps reduce customer dropoff at these critical moments, leading to higher conversion. 

We respect privacy
Privacy and security are core to the Spot Platform. No device permissions or data provided by the user to Google Pay is passed on without explicit user consent to the merchant Spot. Users can grant, review or modify these permissions at any time, for each Spot individually.  

We’re thrilled about all the new possibilities the Spot Platform brings for both individuals and businesses. Many of our users have already experienced the underlying technology when they bought Train Tickets or Gold on Google Pay or played the Tez Shots game we built for the Cricket World Cup. The Spot Platform has been rolled out to all Google Pay users, and some of our early access partners who have created a ‘Spot’ include:
Today, we are broadening this early access program, and inviting developers and businesses to sign up to create their Spot and build engaging relationships with millions of users on Google Pay. Start here. 

By Ambarish Kenghe, Director, Product Management, Google Pay

Google Research India: an AI lab in Bangalore

People have been using technology to solve problems and improve their quality of life for centuries, from sharing knowledge with the printing press to going online to build a small business. These days, artificial intelligence is opening up the next phase of technological advances. And with its world-class engineering talent, strong computer science programs and entrepreneurial drive, India has the potential to lead the way in using AI to tackle big challenges. In fact, there are already many examples of this happening in India today: from detecting diabetic eye disease to improving flood forecasting and teaching kids to read. 


To take this to the next level we created Google Research India––an AI lab we’re starting in Bangalore. This team will focus on two pillars: First, advancing fundamental computer science and AI research by building a strong team and partnering with the research community across the country. Second, applying this research to tackle big problems in fields like healthcare, agriculture, and education while also using it to make apps and services used by billions of people more helpful. 


Google Research India will be led by Manish Gupta, a renowned computer scientist and ACM Fellow with a background in deep learning across video analysis and education, compilers and computer systems. We’re also excited to have Professor Milind Tambe join us on a joint appointment from Harvard University as Director of AI for Social Good. Professor Tambe will build a research program around applying AI to tackle big problems in areas like healthcare, agriculture, or education. 


The lab in Bangalore will be part of and support Google’s global network of researchers: participating in conferences, publishing research in scientific papers, and collaborating closely with each other. We’re also exploring the potential for partnering with India’s scientific research community and academic institutions to help train top talent and support collaborative programs, tools and resources. 


Starting Google Research India is an important step for us, and for me personally, too. As someone who grew up in India, studied at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, and learned so much from the community there, I’m grateful that we now have the opportunity to help advance research and play a part in building the AI community in India. 

If you’re a scientist or researcher interested in learning more about Google Research India, click here.     

By Jay Yagnik, Vice President and Google Fellow, Google AI

Watch up to 3x more with Data Saver on Android TV

Smart TVs running Android TV are quickly gaining popularity in India: there are millions of monthly active Android TV users across the country. Unfortunately, not everyone has Wi-Fi at home, which can make it difficult to connect the TVs to the internet. Instead, many smart TV owners decide to connect their devices by using their mobile hotspot. But that presents problems: watching HD TV on a mobile data connection can quickly drain your daily data plan.


Today, we're proud to introduce a set of 4 new features for India that help users get the most out of their smart TV with limited mobile data (and it works great with Google’s Files app). 


  • Data Saver reduces your data usage on mobile connections, increasing watch time by up to 3x
  • Data Alerts help you monitor your data usage while watching TV
  • Hotspot Guide helps you set up your TV with your mobile hotspot


You can easily set up Data Saver (left) and see Data Alerts (right) while watching TV using your mobile hotspot


  • Cast in Files lets you view downloaded media from your phone on your TV without using data


    Files allows you to cast offline media to your TV without using data


    These improvements will make it easy to watch streaming video on TV without draining your data. We’ll be rolling out these features to Android TV devices in India over the coming weeks, starting with Xiaomi, TCL and MarQ by Flipkart, with a global rollout following after. Cast in Google’s Files app is available today in the Beta program and will roll out to all users in the coming weeks.

    By Joris van Mens, Product Manager, Next Billion Users

    YouTube Charts Launch in India Showcasing The Hottest Artists, Songs and Music Videos



    At YouTube, we understand the importance of showcasing and celebrating the hottest artists, songs and music videos from around the world. Today, we’re closing a critical gap by rolling out the Music Charts experience in India. India has long been one of the most unique and vibrant music markets in the world. Nowhere is that more visible than on YouTube. We look forward to celebrating the success of the artists, songs and music videos that are resonating with Indian music fans. This week, the India Chart is topped by Arijit Singh’s Pachtaoge, followed by Psycho Saiyaan and Jass Manak’s Lehanga.


    Over the last year, many Indian artists including Guru Randhawa, Badshah, Arijit Singh and Neha Kakkar have each reached the YouTube music country charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, along with the global chart. This week, Ranu Maria Mondal’s song ‘Teri Meri Kahani’ for Himesh Reshammiya’s upcoming film is topping the Global Charts on YouTube.com/charts, with over 138M views and counting. Ranu comes from a humble background and recently became a global sensation  for her singing video. 


    With more than 2 billion global users and 265 million users every month in India, YouTube charts is the go-to destination to see what’s popular, what’s rising and trending both locally in India and globally. The YouTube charts are a reflection of the success achieved by artists on the world's most expansive music platform. 


    The YouTube Music Charts include:


    Trending: What’s new and hot in music right now
    The new Trending chart is updated multiple times a day to provide a unique, real time view of the hottest new music fans are enjoying. The Trending chart is YouTube’s first dedicated external signal highlighting videos which were instantly popular upon release based on the total of organic views. 


    Top Songs: The most played songs on YouTube
    The Top Songs chart highlights the number of organic views of a song on YouTube. Calculated by combining all official versions of a song (including the official music video, official song used in user generated content and lyric videos), the Top Songs chart reflects how users are consuming music on the platform and the multiple ways artists are using YouTube to share their music. The Top Songs chart is updated weekly on Monday at 12.30 IST. 


    Top Artists: The biggest artists on YouTube
    The Top Artists chart highlights the most popular artists on YouTube, based on the total organic views of their entire discography - official music videos, official song used in user generated content, lyric videos, and more. Top Artists is updated weekly on Monday at 12.30 IST.


    Top Music Videos: The most viewed music videos
    The Top Music Videos chart celebrates the music video experience on YouTube, highlighting the most viewed official music videos on the platform. Top Videos is updated weekly on Monday at 12.30 IST based on the total of organic views. 


    YouTube Charts are also available within YouTube Music, including Top 100 most played songs and top 100 music videos globally and locally and top 30 Trending chart.


    Full details about how the YouTube charts are calculated can be found here. Check out what’s hot and trending in India this week on charts.youtube.com

    By Chris Clark, Product Manager, YouTube Music

    Elevating original reporting in Search

    Google Search was built to provide everyone access to information on the web — and with tens of thousands of web pages, hundreds of hours of video, thousands of tweets and news stories published every minute of the day, our job is to sift through that content and find the most helpful results possible. With news in particular, we always aim to show a diversity of articles and sources to give users as much context and insight as possible.   


    An important element of the coverage we want to provide is original reporting, an endeavor which requires significant time, effort and resources by the publisher. Some stories can also be both critically important in the impact they can have on our world and difficult to put together, requiring reporters to engage in deep investigative pursuits to dig up facts and sources. These are among the reasons why we aim to support these industry efforts and help people get access to the most authoritative reporting.


    Recently, we’ve made ranking updates and published changes to our search rater guidelines to help us better recognize original reporting, surface it more prominently in Search and ensure it stays there longer. This means readers interested in the latest news can find the story that started it all, and publishers can benefit from having their original reporting more widely seen.


    Ranking changes to support original reporting 


    In today’s fast-paced world of news, the original reporting on a subject doesn’t always stay in the spotlight for long. Many news articles, investigations, exclusive interviews or other work can be so notable that they generate interest and follow-up coverage from other publications. And in other cases, many stories cover a single news development, with all of them published around the same time. This can make it difficult for users to find the story that kicked everything off.


    While we typically show the latest and most comprehensive version of a story in news results, we've made changes to our products globally to highlight articles that we identify as significant original reporting. Such articles may stay in a highly visible position longer. This prominence allows users to view the original reporting while also looking at more recent articles alongside it.


    There is no absolute definition of original reporting, nor is there an absolute standard for establishing how original a given article is. It can mean different things to different newsrooms and publishers at different times, so our efforts will constantly evolve as we work to understand the life cycle of a story.


    Changing our rater guidelines


    We use algorithms to sort through everything we find on the web and organize this content in a way that is helpful. Those algorithms are composed of hundreds of different signals that are constantly updated and improved. To tune and validate our algorithms and help our systems understand the authoritativeness of individual pages, we have more than 10,000 raters around the world evaluating our work - their feedback doesn't change the ranking of the specific results they're reviewing; instead it is used to evaluate and improve algorithms in a way that applies to all results. The principles that guide how they operate are mapped out in our search rater guidelines, a public document that allows raters to better understand and assess the unique characteristics of content that appears in Search results. 


    In short: these guidelines are the clear description of what we value in content when ranking.  And we’ve just introduced a change to help us gather new feedback so that our automated ranking systems can better surface original content. 


    To illustrate the update, in section 5.1 of the guidelines, we instruct raters to use the highest rating, “very high quality,” for original news reporting “that provides information that would not otherwise have been known had the article not revealed it. Original, in-depth, and investigative reporting requires a high degree of skill, time, and effort.”


    In addition to recognizing individual instances of original reporting at the page level, we also ask raters to consider the publisher’s overall reputation for original reporting. That update in section 2.6.1 reads: “Many other kinds of websites have reputations as well. For example, you might find that a newspaper (with an associated website) has won journalistic awards. Prestigious awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize award, or a history of high quality original reporting are strong evidence of positive reputation.”


    We hope these updates to elevate original reporting will provide people with a deeper understanding of their changing communities and the conversations going on around them. Giving everyone better access to original journalism across all types of stories—ranging from movies, sports, music and celebrity scoops to the serious journalism behind #MeToo, the Panama Papers and the opioid crisis—is all about helping people stay informed about the news that matters to them. 


    Posted by Richard Gingras, VP, News

    We are excited to announce India’s first-ever NextUp Women to Watch Class of 2019!

    At the very heart of the special edition contests that we announced for YouTube NextUp India 2019, is the aim to amplify voices of diverse groups and promote inclusivity. NextUp Women to Watch is one such contest that we are hosting to spotlight and support women on YouTube. 


    Over the years, NextUp has supported many female creators on their journey to success. on YouTube. For instance Sejal Kumar (Class of 2016), one of the most loved lifestyle creators today, reaches 1 million people, and continues to mentor and support the new batches. Another example is Archy J (Class of 2017) who brought bagpipe music to the mainstage in India, and was honoured by the President of India for it. To continue the momentum, the #WomentoWatch edition hopes to create and inspire the next generation of women creators! 


    For our very first edition of Women to Watch, we received a humbling response from women creators. Hundreds of channels from across the country country sent in their entries, in multiple languages, and covering a diverse mix of genres. Be it breaking gender stereotypes or leading the charge on education; entertaining motovlogging or fitness expertise; uncovering new fashion trends or creating minimalist lifestyle formats -- the entries were a glimpse into the rising power of women on the platform! 


    Our 12 winners will attend a five-day Creator Camp at the Pop-Up Space in Delhi, at the end of this month. Over the course of the Camp, they will go through sessions on content strategy best practices, well-being and masterclasses on camera work, lighting, editing and production design to help them refine their craft. We will also be hosting past winners as Alumni Mentors to share their journey with the winners. Each winner will also receive a voucher worth INR 1,40,000 for production equipment, to take their channel to the next level! 


    So here is a sneak peak into what these Women to Watch are all about.


    Vitamin Stree: Aims to create a community to facilitate fun educational conversations for women on the web. 


    Ramsha Sultan: Through her beauty tutorials & talk series, she inspires her viewers to be positive inside out. 


    Pooja Sachdeva: Pooja weaves stories through poetry and shayari, on important social issues. 


    Nidhi Mohan Kamal: Confused about fitness, yoga or lifestyle? Here is a professional nutritionist and trainer, sharing her secrets on her channel. 


    Tech for Luddites: The tech-savvy Sira breaks down all things technology, news, science on her channel. 


    Unmasked: This dynamic duo (Prerna and Parul) from Uttar Pradesh will help you put your dancing shoes on through their unique choreographies! 


    Arati’s life: An avid motovlogger and traveller who leaves us enthralled with her zest and vigor! 


    Shalini Mandal: Skincare, selfcare, fashion and travel go hand-in-hand on Shalini’s channel, all the way from Bhopal! 


    Golgappa Girl: Food & travel lovers unite, because Pooja believes that food connects you with everyone. 


    Veronica Awungshi: A girl who wears many hats - makeup, everyday life, dance - and vlogs about them all! 


    CA Rachana Phadke Ranade: Rachana helps make financial literacy and knowledge simple and practical. 


    Sangeetha’s Lifestyle: Organisation, DIY, Indian Decor, with a healthy dose of minimalism, & all in Tamil, is what Sangeetha’s channel offers. 


    A huge congratulations to these wonderful creators! Some of them were also panelists at the recent YouTube EduCon 2019 in Delhi and we can’t wait to see the heights they all scale from here. See you at Creator Camp! You can follow along on Twitter at @YTCreatorsIndia for all the exciting updates from our winners on-ground at Camp. 

    Posted by Marc Lefkowitz, Head of YouTube Creator and Artist Development, APAC

    A new way to pay on Google Play Store — via UPI

    https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TZq0nw_gxo1FS4-m6aMq4PhbuyTbFeM2C_cyfSuW7TuTsNOsKdB34yWPf8VbJFabCgKTo176WkYLXACl174goOK77s4SPH5do3GSiyAsy2xVrchg5npdklmrbL4Zy82fjWEal-3X Saurabh Agarwal Head of Google Play Retail & Payments Activation - India, Vietnam & New Zealand author_team
    The Google Play Store helps people find their favorite apps, games, movies, TV shows, music, books and more, on the device of their choice. With more than 2 billion active users in 190+ countries around the world, Play is also an important distribution platform for developers to build a global audience.


    Indian app developers are already building successful businesses on the Google Play Store, offering a range of great apps across categories, and we are committed to helping them grow. One way to make this happen is to make it even easier for people to pay for apps and in-app content, which is why we are pleased to add Unified Payment Interface (UPI) as a new payment method to the existing roster of credit or debit card, net banking, direct carrier billing, and gift cards options.
    UPI has grown over 50 times since its launch in August 2017, clocking 918 million transactions in August 2019 alone. A payment system that enables transfers, directly from one bank account to another, its ease and convenience has helped it outpace all other forms of digital payment in India. Users across the country are now choosing UPI for everything from utility bill payments, mobile recharges, in-store transactions and much more, and we’re pleased to bring its convenience to millions of users on Google Play.


    Over the next few weeks on the Play Store in India, UPI will show up as a new payment option for purchasing apps, games, and in-app content using your preferred UPI app including BHIM, Google Pay, Paytm and PhonePe. Simply link your UPI ID (VPA or Virtual Payment Address) in Google Play Store Billing, and use your bank account to conveniently make app and in-app purchases.


    The addition of UPI as a payment option on the Google Play Store allows even more people to enjoy premium apps, games, and in-app content, while helping developers and creators reach a wider audience for their apps and content.

    Posted by Saurabh Agarwal, Head of Google Play Retail & Payments Activation - India, Vietnam & New Zealand

    10 things to know about Android 10

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1m5fpSI-6n8/XW9U2K1ZmUI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/jJ-kRw1JXkoEgFeJyE5ZidZqAp_bulAjwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-09-04%2Bat%2B11.36.25%2BAM.png Dave Burke VP Engineering


    Android 10 is here! With this release, we focused on making your everyday life easier with features powered by on-device machine learning, as well as supporting new technologies like Foldables and 5G. At the same time, with almost 50 changes related to privacy and security, Android 10 gives you greater protection, transparency, and control over your data. This builds on top of our ongoing commitment to provide industry-leading security and privacy protections on Android. We also built new tools that empower people of all abilities, and help you find the right balance with technology.

    Here are the 10 things you should know, centered on innovation, security and privacy and digital wellbeing: 

    Simpler, smarter, and more helpful



    1. Smart Reply now suggests actions. So when someone sends you a message with an address or a YouTube video, you can open and navigate in Google Maps or open up the video in YouTube—no copying and pasting required. And Smart Reply now works across all your favorite messaging apps.
    2. Come to the dark side… with Dark Theme. You can enable Dark Theme for your entire phone or for specific apps like Photos and Calendar. It’s easier on your eyes, and your phone battery too. 
    3. Take advantage of larger, edge-to-edge screens with the new gesture navigation. With simple swipes, you can go backwards, pull up the homescreen, and fluidly move between tasks. After switching, you won’t want to go back to visible buttons. 
    4. With a single tap, Live Caption will automatically caption videos, podcasts and audio messages across any app—even stuff you record yourself. Live Caption will become available this fall, starting with Pixel.

    New privacy and security features put you in control

    5. You can choose to only share location data with apps while you’re using them. You’ll also receive reminders when an app that you are not actively using is accessing your location, so you can decide whether or not to continue sharing. 
    6. In a new Privacy section under Settings, you’ll find important controls like Web & App Activity and Ad Settings in one place. 
    7. With Google Play system updates, important security and privacy fixes can now be sent to your phone from Google Play, in the same way your apps update. So you get these fixes as soon as they’re available, without having to wait for a full OS update. 

    Find the right balance with technology for you and your family

    8. You have greater control over where and when notifications will alert you. Mark notifications as “Silent” and they won’t make noise or appear on your lockscreen, so you're only alerted by notifications when you want to be.
    9. Now Family Link is part of every device running Android 9 or 10, right in settings under Digital Wellbeing. Parents can use these tools to set digital ground rules like daily screen time limits, device bedtime, time limits on specific apps, and more. They can also review the apps children install on their devices, as well as their usage.
    10. Want to be in the zone but not off the grid? Digital Wellbeing now brings you Focus mode. Select the apps you find distracting—such as email or the news—and silence them until you come out of Focus mode. Sign up for the Beta to try it.
    There’s lots more in Android 10, including a new enterprise feature that lets you use different keyboards for your personal and work profiles, app timers for specific websites so you can balance your time on the web, new gender-inclusive emoji, and support for direct audio streaming to hearing aid devices. 
    Android 10 begins rolling out to Pixel phones today, and we’re working with our partners to launch and upgrade devices to Android 10 this year. Learn more at android.com/10.


    Posted by Dave Burke, VP of Engineering

    YouTube for Learning: Investing in growing learning content

    With more resources, mentorship and funding for our Education & Learning creators 


    Sandeep Singh Dhillon, a successful goat farmer from Sirsa (Haryana), currently rearing more than 100 goats in his farm, turned to Darshan – Farming Leader YouTube channel to learn new techniques for raising and breeding goats. He got inspired by Darshan and started creating more farming related content on his SR Commercial Goat Farm. Today, he has 44K+ subscribers, and is helping other inquisitive farmers on newer breeding methods, goat rearing, animal health, and more. And Sandeep is not alone! 


    Today, YouTube reaches over 265 million monthly active users in India, who come to the platform for entertainment, infotainment and edutainment. In fact, our incredible video library is emerging as the largest supplementary learning platform, with learning videos generating hundreds of millions of views on YouTube everyday. Whether it’s learning to make a robot or how to start training for a marathon, lessons in math, science and literature or music and dance tutorials, so many of you are turning to YouTube to feed your curious minds and learn something new. 


    But learning is no longer an urban phenomenon. Today, India’s Internet user base is spread well beyond the top 8 metros, and we’re seeing incredible viewership coming from tier 2 and tier 3 cities. There is an incredible demand for content across different topics in local Indian languages like Government and Public Service entrance exams, English language tutorials, engaging educational content on science and maths, and even unique content such as farming, photography, cricket and even financial literacy. 


    Many of these learning stories are powered by an incredible community of creators like Pratibha's Music, Singh Freestylers, Vitamin Stree and Mad Stuff With Rob whose videos have demonstrated the appeal of content that enriches as well as entertains. Learning content on YouTube is growing at a supersonic rate! Wifi Study, the largest learning content channel in India, live streams upto 30 videos a day, with live Q&A, and crossed 9 million subscribers this year. 


    We are committed  to grow the learning community in India. Here’s more on the steps we are taking -


    Expanding resources and support for Education and Learning Creators 
    Last year in December, we hosted our first EduCon in India where our vibrant community of learning creators joined us for a day of learning from experts, mentors and peers, and networking with other learning creators from across the country. 


    This year too, we got together with over 200 Learning Creators for the 2nd edition of EduCon in India. During the day we heard many inspiring stories of Creators taking that first step when they started their channel, how they overcame many challenges, what motivated them to navigate through the multiple disappointments, finding a community, and ultimately what success means to them. Moreover there were curated sessions on livestreaming, alternate monetization, research and credibility, and content best practices, as well as production fundamentals. 
    Funding Learning Content
    We’re also supporting local creators with funds to develop high-quality learning content, we have already funded eight creators from India -- ExamFear Education Hindi, Learn Engineering, Don't Memorise, Study IQ Education, D'art of Science, Learnex - English Lessons Through Hindi, GetSetFlySCIENCE, and Let's Make Engineering Simple. This fund is supporting the development of high-quality learning content, covering topics like English language training, environmental science, political science, calculus, genetics, chemistry in English, Hindi and Tamil. Some of the work of these creators have already been made available online, and there is lots of exciting content in the pipeline. 


    Introducing Learning Playlists 
    We recently introduced Learning Playlists to provide a dedicated learning environment for people who come to YouTube to learn. 10 of these are from India, covering a variety of categories from academic topics in English and Hindi, such as calculus, chemistry, and political science, to building English Vocabulary and Pronunciation lessons. More playlists coming soon! 


    On a personal note, Education is and has been a part of my life in more ways than one. I was always inspired by my mother, who started the school I studied in and I grew up watching her create a small world of learning there. Today I am equally inspired as I watch thousands of creators create their worlds of learning on YouTube. 

    Posted by Satya Raghavan, Director Content Partnerships, YouTube in India 

    Backing Asia Pacific’s emerging newsroom leaders

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LsnlVi66dlG8uaMR_EBMRZE0yy6PZ2tzTXjWTjCOrZRbElh_lOccSB_D-jQ--4Ghfh5l3tnAs4v_fkv33IN4hzuEU_6faorMcFDyMPBrZg6aWE8Cp_qN-XdKgn02JnBHiRaJX0lE Irene Jay Liu News Lab Lead Asia Pacific


    Our 2019-2020 Fellows, as pictured from left to right, starting from the top left: Gyanu Adhikari, Phillip O’Sullivan, Akane Imamura, Betina Hughes, Danielle Cronin, Marium Chaudhry, Nitya Thirumalai, Hyuntaek Lee, Ragamalika Karthikeyan, Yusuf Wijanarko, Anisa Menur Maulani, and Lynn D’Cruz
    Across Asia Pacific, a new generation of journalists is telling the region’s stories and tackling the challenges facing the news industry. The Google News Initiative (GNI) Newsroom Leadership Program, a collaboration between GNI and the Columbia School of Journalism, was established to develop the business and product expertise of these emerging newsroom leaders. Today we’re announcing the 2019-2020 Program fellows and sharing more about their projects.  


    The projects they chose are as diverse as their backgrounds. These journalists hail from Pakistan to Japan, India to Australia. They’ll be looking at how digital tools can make great storytelling even better, championing socially-conscious reporting and investigating new approaches to political polling. And they’ll explore new membership and revenue models for news, helping fund the future of journalism in their countries. 


    As they work on their projects, the fellows will take part in seminars and develop professional networks across the region. To find out more, we spoke to Raju Narisetti, the Director of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism and Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia, who helped develop the program. 


    What are the skills you think emerging newsroom leaders need to be successful today?
    The most critical skill is an understanding of the business of journalism and the forces shaping the industry. They also need to hone the ability to think of content as a product, and the willingness to let data inform their decisions. These “hard” skills need to be coupled with “power skills” like developing diverse teams, leading with purpose and managing relentless change.


    How do you think the GNI Newsroom Leadership Program addresses this?
    The fellows will experience a mix of theory and practice in seminars during their in-residence weeks at Columbia School of Journalism.  Practitioners as well as academics will deliver the sessions, which are specifically designed for the media industry. Topics will range from revenue streams and media sustainability to building video, audience and analytics frameworks and teams for the next decade. They’ll also get hands-on workshops on developing leadership and “managing up.”


    What words of advice do you have for the fellows as they prepare to go through the program?
    Be really present during the in-residency classroom weeks, because your day job will still be waiting for you. Think of the other participants as a learning and sharing opportunity that can become a professional support network during the year and beyond. And have strong beliefs (about your project or the news business), but hold them loosely, so you can embrace new ideas and solutions.


    Posted by Irene Jay Liu, News Lab Lead, Asia Pacific