RMS, Nation Media Group To Benefit From Google's Ksh380 Million

The Royal Media Services (RMS) and Nation Media Group (NMG) have been recognised among 34 recipients of the third Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge drawn from Africa, the Middle East, Israel & Turkey.

The recipients included 21 journalists and publishers from 10 countries in Africa, who were chosen by the initiative under the global search engine, Google, for their diversity in promoting diversity, equality and inclusion in the journalism industry.

The Innovation Challenges, which have been part of Google’s Ksh35.7 billion ($300 million) commitment to helping journalism thrive in the digital age, have seen news innovators across the world step forward with many exciting initiatives demonstrating new thinking.

The Google News Initiative logo. /FILE

"The 3rd Middle East, Turkey and Africa Innovation Challenge launched in February 2022 and received 425 applications from 42 countries – a 27 per cent increase in overall applications. After a rigorous review, a round of interviews and a final jury selection process, 34 projects were selected from 17 countries to receive $3.2 million (Ksh380 million) in funding.

"This Innovation Challenge saw a significant increase in applications from news organizations undertaking fact-checking activities: an increase of 118 per cent when compared to previous Innovation Challenges in the region. Proposed projects which use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) also showed significant growth (92 per cent), reflecting a trend across the news ecosystem to embrace cutting-edge new technologies and data," Ludovich Blecher, Head of Innovation, Google News Initiative, revealed in part on Thursday, July 28.

The call for applications listed five criteria: impact on the news ecosystem; innovation; diversity, equity and inclusion; inspiration; and feasibility.

NMG was recognised alongside RMS' Citizen Digital website segment, Wananchi Reporting. Others included Quote This Woman+ from South Africa, Minority Africa from Uganda and Nigeria’s Dubawa.

Wananchi Reporting provides features that allow both the unserved and underserved Kenyans from remote and excluded areas to tell their stories and highlight diversity in a manner that avoids misrepresentation by allowing them to contribute to the news ecosystem through their technology-driven interactive platform.

RMS’ Multimedia Managing Editor Waihiga Mwaura revealed that the funding from Google will enable the media house to enhance the Wananchi Reporting feature to reach more Kenyans ahead of the August 9 general elections.

“This is just a public affirmation of the talented team that represents the Citizen Digital brand.

"With this support from Google, we will take journalism closer to the people by strengthening our 'Wananchi Reporting' arm. Keep it Citizen Digital for more innovative offerings during this election and even after that,” he said.

NMG was recognised for its audience acquisition and engagement through the development of hyperlocal content across multiple digital channels as well as the innovation and investment in news products for local markets.

It was also celebrated for its reliance much more on user-generated local content, as well as seeking opportunities to localise advertising markets and leverage a national tech backbone to gain efficiency for editorial inputs locally.

Inside Nation Media Group's offices. /FILE

Proposed projects which use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) also showed significant growth (92 per cent), reflecting a trend across the news ecosystem to embrace cutting-edge new technologies and data.

Here is the list of other winners from Africa: