The last two years have been challenging across multiple dimensions for people and businesses around the world. There has never been a greater need for authoritative, timely journalism, yet many news organisations are confronting challenges as the world reorients.

Through this year, we have announced several initiatives to address the needs of startup news businesses, as well as large scale news publishers in this altered landscape. 

Today we are pleased to launch the Google News Initiative Advertising Lab to support small and medium sized news publishers producing original news for local and regional communities in India. The program, aimed at newsrooms employing up to 100 members, will focus on technical and product training of teams, as well as technical implementation to help grow the organization’s digital ad revenues. 

The program will select up to 800 small to medium news publishers and work closely with a select subset to guide them through the optimization / setup of their content management systems, websites and ad setups. 

This program is the latest in a host of GNI programs working directly with news organizations of all sizes on developing new products, programs and partnerships to help news publishers grow their businesses.

"The insights and business direction provided through the interactive sessions as part of the Google News Initiative were eye opening for the team. We are excited and thankful that a similar scaled program is being launched to further help us keep pace with the changes in the publishing landscape." - Harisha Bhat, Chief Technology Officer, Udayavani, Manipal Media Network Ltd.

Detailed eligibility criteria and applications can be accessed at the GNI Advertising Lab program website. Applications are open starting today until 5 November 2021.

Posted by Shilpa Jhunjhunwala, Head of India News Partnerships & APAC News Programs