Digital News Initiative
The Digital News Initiative (also known as the Google News Initiative) is a European organisation created by Google to "support high-quality journalism through technology and innovation".[1][2] It encompasses an Innovation Fund worth €150m which in 2018 funded 461 projects at news organisations across Europe.[3]
Goals
Google describe the goal of the Initiative as "helping journalism thrive in the digital age".[2] The company break spending into four areas:[3]
- "Battling misinformation"
- "Telling local stories"
- "Boosting digital revenues"
- "Exploring new technologies"
Proxy Lobbying
In 2018, while campaigning against the proposed Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, Google encouraged members of the Initiative's working group to lobby their regional MEPs. The private request was revealed by the Financial Times, itself a recipient of grants from the Initiative:[3]
In the email to the members of the DNI working group — and which has been seen by the Financial Times — Madhav Chinnappa, Google’s director of strategic relations, wrote that the “timing is urgent” and provided a link to a directory of MEPs. “If you feel strongly about this, please consider contacting the MEPs,” he said.
Mr. Chinnappa later stated that his email had been sent following a request for comment by members of the working group.[4]
References
- ^ "Digital News Initiative: €20 million of funding for innovation in news". Google. 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
- ^ a b "Google News Initiative". Google. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c "Digital News Innovation Fund Report 2018" (PDF). Google. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Google criticised for push against EU copyright reform". Financial Times. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
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