{"id":215025,"date":"2020-09-09T13:24:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T17:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lionpublishers.com\/?p=215025"},"modified":"2021-07-02T13:27:39","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T17:27:39","slug":"meet-the-24-news-projects-getting-intensive-coaching-from-our-inaugural-google-news-initiative-startups-lab-boot-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lionpublishers.com\/meet-the-24-news-projects-getting-intensive-coaching-from-our-inaugural-google-news-initiative-startups-lab-boot-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the 24 news projects getting intensive coaching from our inaugural Google News Initiative Startups Lab Boot Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today we\u2019re announcing our inaugural Google News Initiative Startups Lab Boot Camp<\/a> cohort: 24 projects \u2014 some led by individuals, some by small teams \u2014 selected from 259 applications that we received over a six-week period. During that time, more than 800 people attended information sessions and events about the boot camp, applied to the boot camp or signed up to join<\/a> our entrepreneurial journalism community (more details on that soon!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I say all that to underscore what we believe is a growing need for an ecosystem of support and opportunities<\/a> for aspiring news entrepreneurs. I\u2019m grateful that we are working with Phillip Smith and the Google News Initiative to begin to give these folks the coaching they need to serve information needs that aren\u2019t currently being met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So without further ado, meet the 24 teams of aspiring founders who will undertake an intensive eight-week journalism entrepreneurship bootcamp beginning this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEET OUR STARTUPS LAB BOOT CAMP COHORT<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Aala Abdullahi
<\/strong>Dot Diaspora: A news outlet and crowdfunding hybrid that aims to centralize, engage, direct and mobilize the financial power of the African diaspora.
(New York, NY\/Toronto, Ontario)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam Chen
<\/strong>Talk Media: Creating interactive and experimental local journalism that engages audiences, sparking curiosity and new relationships through shared experiences.
(Toronto, Ontario)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annelise Pierce
<\/strong>Shasta Scout: An independent news organization focusing on Shasta County\u2019s complex stories and diverse populations.
(Redding, CA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aysha Mahmood
<\/strong>More Muslims in Politics: Amplify Muslim voice in a news cycle that has historically either misrepresented Muslims or has reported on them with strong Islamophobic bias.
(Hartford, CT)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bobby Burns <\/strong>and Christa Shavers
<\/strong>The Informed Village: Building a black-led 21st century news organization that is committed to truth telling and using the power of storytelling to influence positive change.
(Evanston, IL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bria Felicien
<\/strong>The Black Sportswoman: Tells the stories of Black women athletes in sports history and highlights those often written out of mainstream coverage.
(East Point, GA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camille Padilla Dalmau
<\/strong>9 Millones: Creates data-driven, solution-based stories for the nine million Puerto Ricans across the globe.
(San Juan, Puerto Rico)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filiberto Nolasco Gomez
<\/strong>Plexippus: Investigative journalism on the Carceral State.
(Minneapolis, MN)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer Miller <\/strong>and Lynzie DeVeres Gaither
<\/strong>LA Unpacked: In addition to motivating people to vote and get involved, we will explain systemic racism in Los Angeles and how it affects Black people.
(Los Angeles, CA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessika Davidson <\/strong>and Charles Miles
<\/strong>Bayou City BLK: Dedicated to telling stories and convening discussions around Black Houston\u2019s past, present and future, exploring the tapestry of cultures that make up the bayou city\u2019s unique identity.
(Houston, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josh Mariscal <\/strong>and Pete Ramirez
<\/strong>Frontera Free Press: An independent digital media company that strives to enlighten our audience through investigative, informative journalism that will highlight the culture and politics of the Rio Grande Valley and communities all along the United States-Mexico border.
(Edinburg\/Austin, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karen Williams <\/strong>and Wynter Ogele
<\/strong>The Daily 219: A news outreach program for seniors and those without technology to access local news and community information.
(Gary, IN)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leah March\u00e9
<\/strong>BELLbulletin: Heralds truth in the Grand Canyon State with a high-caliber commitment to Blackness, Humanity and Culture.
(Phoenix, AZ)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke Baumgarten
<\/strong>RANGE: A media project covering our political and cultural landscape while working to imagine and then build a significantly better world.
(Spokane, WA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minda Honey
<\/strong>TAUNT: A local, indie outlet not filtered through the white male gaze.
(Louisville, KY)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nancy Flores
<\/strong>(Name forthcoming): A Latino digital news outlet at the intersection of culture and community that will shine a light on the untold stories that illuminate the resilience it takes to be Latino in Austin.
(Austin, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sonya Ross
<\/strong>Black Women Unmuted: A digital content generator that provides coverage of Black women\u2019s political, civic and social engagement in the United States.
(Washington, D.C.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stacy Feldman
<\/strong>Boulder Local: A modern, independent local news and engagement initiative to serve the entire community of Boulder.
(Boulder, CO)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susana Mas
<\/strong>(Name forthcoming): A weekly newsletter focused on fact-checking and digital literacy tips \u2014 especially around COVID-19 \u2014 to serve primarily immigrants and newcomers published in English, French and Spanish.(Ottawa, Ontario)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travers Johnson
<\/strong>Queerency: A new digital media company that tells the stories of how queer people mind our business and make our money.
(Washington, D.C.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the following boot camp participants gave us permission to share their project ideas:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HeyReprotech<\/strong>: A weekly newsletter dedicated to reporting and analyzing developments in reproductive technologies, including their societal impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Objective:<\/strong> A publication meant to confront the inequities in journalism that, since the 1950s, have been rooted in \u201cobjectivity\u201d and continue today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rounding out our 24 teams are two more boot camp participants who are remaining in stealth mode for now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OF THE 24 PROJECTS\u2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n