View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
April 18, 2012

News project to help journalism start-ups

By admin


A new Google-funded project to help journalism start-ups is now seeking entrants.

News entrepreneurs are being offered an intensive weekend of masterclasses to kick-start their journalism initiatives. UCLan MADE (Media and Digital Enterprise) is an initiative of the University of Central Lancashire’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication.

The 48-hour ‘MADE:UK Startup Weekend’will run from June 15-17 at UCLan’s Media Factory, a centre for creative and digital industries in Preston.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The project is seeking up to 30 news entrepreneurs from anywhere in Europe who are keen to either start or grow their own news start-ups.

Successful applicants will work with a team of mentors including digital talent from data experts ScraperWiki, leading community publishing company Talk About Local and UCLan’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication supported by the Northern Lights’ business team.

Project founder François Nel said:

The ideal candidates will be creative, motivated communicators looking to make factual content in the public interest.

Projects could be news and information, hyperlocal news, niche content or issue based. If it’s in the public interest, we want to hear from you.

After the startup weekend up to five projects will be invited to join the MADE:UK Hothouse, a 12-week mentoring and support programme that will give entrepreneurs one-to-one access to expertise from MADE project partners to develop and grow their enterprises.

Talk About Local CEO Sarah Hartley said:

In many ways, the timing for this MADE opportunity couldn’t be better with such a growing interest, and need, to find new sustainable business models for news providers. I’m looking forward to working with these news entrepreneurs to help them find and develop their communities and start answering some of the massive demand there is for trustworthy news and information.

Click here to apply or email FPNel@uclan.ac.uk

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network