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DNI funding paves way for Media Management Accelerator

Thanks to financial support from the Google Digital News Initiative (DNI), WAN-IFRA will launch a programme designed to promote the development of new business models, train top talent in media companies, and accelerate their transformation in today’s ever-changing news ecosystem.

by WAN-IFRA Staff executivenews@wan-ifra.org | February 24, 2016

Called the Media Management Accelerator (MOOC), WAN-IFRA’s aim is to utilise its expertise and global network to create an open, comprehensive, online and in-person learning platform. The programme will feature in-depth learning modules, led by industry experts, focusing on the topics of:

  • Revenue Strategy
  • Using Data to Drive Growth
  • Innovation & Culture
  • Paid Content
  • Digital Advertising

“The vast majority of WAN-IFRA members are small and mid-size businesses spread throughout the world. They should greatly benefit from a user-friendly, easy-access, agile, and modern learning toolkit such as the Media Management Accelerator,” said Vincent Peyrègne, WAN-IFRA CEO. “The broad reach of MOOC’s platform, the in-depth modules combined with a certification is a formula that will benefit news professionals, not only in mature countries but also in countries where news professionals do not have easy access to professional coaching, qualified training facilities, and networking capacities.

“Google’s DNI fund allows us to develop a service that would not have been accessible to our network without its support. It accelerates and advances the best solutions to the market, without discrimination,” Peyrègne added.

Raising the bar

The open platform should allow WAN-IFRA to leverage its library of global best-practice, insights and expertise through its panel of experts, offering a programme that will touch different levels of rising talent and management in participating news organisations.

“The inherent advantages of open, online courses, combined with our global reach, know-how and guidance will enable media managers, executives and the entire industry to quickly and efficiently develop the understanding required to operate and innovate the business of news publishing in the digital age,” said Ben Shaw, Director of Global Advisory at WAN-IFRA, who will be driving the project. “We are pleased that Google shares our vision for accelerating the development of new innovative business models for news.”

Last April Google announced that it had set aside 150 million euros to help stimulate innovation in digital journalism, made available through its Digital Innovation Fund, to fund projects over the next three years. In October, Google opened up the first application round. Google announced today that the Fund will be offering 27 million euros to 128 projects in 23 countries across Europe.

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