The Knight News Challenge is giving away around $5 million in 2009 for the development and distribution of neighborhood and community-focused projects, services, and programs!

What fits the challenge?

Knight wants to hear your ideas for improving local online news, growing community engagement, integrating Web 2.0 tools with local neighborhoods, developing publishing platforms and standards that support local conversations or innovations for visualizing, experience or interacting with information.  Share your ideas and you can win the funding for your project and support within a vibrant community of media, tech and community-oriented people who all want to improve the world.

Who should apply?

Applications for the 2008-09 cycle will be taken starting September 2, 2008 and close on November 1, 2008.  For more information, visit the Knight News Challenge site.  Here some easy rules for application in the 2008-09 Knight News Challenge:

1. Use or create digital, open-source technology as the code base.
2. Serve the public interest.
3. Benefit one or more specific geographic communities.

You can even get support for your application before you submit! The brand-new News Challenge Garage is a site where prospective applicants can talk with mentors and peers, check out previous winners’ applications and improve applications before the final submission.

Connect in person!

Knight is hosting meetups around the country to connect with interested participants in person, to share ideas, ask questions, and start brainstorming.  Here are some upcoming events:

• Oct 6 - Vancouver: 7:00pm - 9:00pm; Rain City Studios, 420-1 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC  RSVP
• Oct. 7 - Seattle: 7:00pm - 8:30pm, Fremont Abbey Arts Center, 4272 Fremont Ave N.  RSVP
• Oct. 16, 18: Austin, Tex.
• Oct. 21 - San Francisco  RSVP
• Oct 25-26: Boston, TBD.
• Atlanta, TBD.

An RSVP is required for all events; contact Susan Mernit for more information.

For more information, visit the Knight News Challenge site.