Announcing our Cycle One Awardees

22 news organizations will receive more than $930,000 in funding

The Data-Driven Reporting Project, a partnership between Medill and the Google News Initiative, will award more than $930,000 to new document- or data-driven projects. Nineteen of the awards will go to U.S.-based organizations and three to Canadian projects. 

The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Medill. It awards funds to investigative journalists working for local news outlets and outlets serving underrepresented communities across the U.S. and Canada.

“Medill is deeply committed to both advancing local news organizations and supporting the critical investigative journalism that supports democracy,” said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. “We believe these funds, awarded to outlets that don’t always have access to the resources they need for document and data-related investigations, will help achieve both of these aims.”

The awardees for the funds were selected by a panel of eight jurors through three rounds of evaluation. Medill will provide specialized training, expertise and resources to the award recipients. Google played no role in the selection of jurors or individual projects. Applications for a second round will open later this year.

“With our support, these journalists will be able to do the types of investigative work that can bring about meaningful change in their communities,” said Jeremy Gilbert, Medill professor and Knight Chair in Digital Media Strategy. “We are excited to welcome this first group of awardees and look forward to supporting them.”

The Cycle One recipients