IFCN, Facebook grant $450K for tech innovation

The International Fact-Checking Network is extending its partnership with the Facebook Journalism Project to offer grants worth $450,000 as part of the Fact-Checking Innovation Initiative, reports Poynter.

The funding will be built on the legacy of the first round, but this time will focus more on technology innovation and development.

Both organizations are “looking for projects that bring fact-checkers together with developers and/or academics to build and test technology solutions that empower high-quality journalism and help fact-checkers do their work.”

Grantees will share the funding and will also have the opportunity to share their findings with the wider fact-checking community during Global Fact 8, in June next year.

In addition, grantees will also be given access to IFCN staff and evaluation committee members.

Applications open on June 26 at 12 pm EDT and will be closed by July 24. Applicants can submit only one proposal which must include a detailed budget and seek up to $100,000.

“Fact-checking has been not only growing by the number of organizations but in their impact as well. This initiative will allow fact-checkers to present out-of-the-box ideas to the broader journalistic community and provide more tools and skills to fight against misinformation,” said Baybars Örsek, IFCN’s director.

Recipients will be announced no later than September 4.