The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Solutions Challenge 2024 ($20,000 grant)

Application Deadline:  October 16, 2024 (11:59 pm ET)

Applications are now open for the 2024 International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Solutions Challenge. ICFJ is seeking experienced professionals to submit ideas, concepts or vision statements that answer this question: How can news publishers leverage new technologies and novel approaches to more effectively reach target audiences, particularly those most vulnerable to disinformation, with quality news and information?

The Solution Challenge is an initiative of the Disarming Disinformation program, a three-year global project run by ICFJ with lead funding by the Scripps Howard Fund. Between 2022 and 2025, the program will have invested $3.8 million on solutions that effectively push back against disinformation. The Solutions Challenge 2024 has additional funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Eligibility

• Media professionals
• Technologists
• Software developers
• Engineers
• Artists
• Lawyers
• SEO experts
• Educators
• Anthropologists

1. Citizenship/Residency: Applicants can be a citizen and resident of any country in the world, but must have a valid passport (with at least six months validity) to participate in the in-person sprint from Dec. 9-12, 2024.
2. Availability: Participation in seven online workshop sessions between Nov 7 and Dec 3, full participation in the three-day sprint from Dec 9 to Dec 12, 2024, and any virtual engagements or preparations leading up to the event.
3. Language Proficiency: Proficient in English, as this will be the primary language used during the Solutions Challenge.
4. Team: You can apply as an individual or a team. If applying as a team, only one member needs to fill the application. You can have up to 5 primary team members.

The Journey

1. Online Application: Submit your visionary idea.
2. Virtual Workshops: Refine your concept with expert guidance.
3. Solutions Sprint: Join us in Istanbul for an intensive, four-day sprint. During the sprint, participants will work with expert mentors to develop their idea through ideation, design, prototyping and testing into a viable product/service for news publishers.
4. Product Development: Selected ideas will receive grant funding of up to $20,000 and expert mentorship to transform their prototype into reality.

Benefits

• Turn your innovative idea into a working prototype.
• Win grant funding to develop your solution.
• Collaborate with global experts and like-minded innovators.
• Make a real impact in the fight against disinformation.

Please note: We are NOT looking for fact-checking initiatives or training programs that help people identify disinformation; tutorials of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Pinpoint etc.; nor investigative story ideas.

Application TImeline:

• Application Deadline: October 16, 2024 (11:59pm ET)
• Virtual Workshops: Nov 7 – Dec 3 (on Tuesdays and Thursdays)
• Istanbul Solutions Sprint: Dec. 9-12, 2024

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Solutions Challenge