Google News Initiative (GNI) today announced collaborations with several South African organizations to support digital transformation and创新in news organizations across the country. The partnerships aim to provide training, funding, and resources to help newsrooms adapt to the evolving digital landscape and strengthen their ability to deliver credible information to their audiences..
One of the key collaborations is with the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), a statutory body established by the South African government to promote diversity and transformation in the media sector. GNI will provide training and mentorship to journalists from MDDA-funded media outlets, with a focus on digital storytelling, data journalism, and audience engagement..
GNI is also partnering with the University of the Witwatersrand’s Journalism Department to launch the Google News Lab at Wits. The lab will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration, offering workshops, training, and resources to journalism students and professionals. It will also provide a platform for research and discussion on the future of journalism in the digital age..
Furthermore, GNI is collaborating with the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) to support the development of a new digital safety protocol for journalists in South Africa. The protocol will provide guidelines and resources to help journalists protect themselves from online threats and harassment..
In addition to these partnerships, GNI is also providing funding and support to several individual news organizations in South Africa. The recipients of the funding include The Daily Maverick, amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, and GroundUp. These organizations will use the funding to invest in digital infrastructure, hire additional staff, and expand their coverage of underrepresented communities..
