Google News Initiative JournalismAI Innovation Challenge 2025

The JournalismAI Innovation Challenge is a programme to fund projects from news publishers to foster AI literacy and implementation through targeted innovation and experimentation. The nine-month programme supports up to 12 news organisations that are exploring AI technologies to enhance audience intelligence and revenue growth, with grants awarded in two tiers.

Grants of $50,000 or $100,000 and participation in a nine-month programme designed to foster AI literacy and experimentation, with potential for implementation and measurement of impact within the grantee's organisation.

Eligible applicants are small to medium-sized news publishers (10-200 personnel) with a verifiable digital presence and at least 12 months of active operation. Government-owned entities or entities affiliated with a political party are not eligible to apply. Publishers must be able to launch and measure impact within nine months and must focus on using AI for audience intelligence and revenue growth, not primarily for storytelling.

Submit an application via the official apply form on the JournalismAI website