Google has launched a ‘News Equity Fund’, a global commitment to provide financial support and opportunities to news organizations that primarily serve underrepresented communities.
The aim of this equity funding program “is to strengthen inclusion, further empower a diverse news ecosystem, and specifically support small and medium sized publishers creating original journalism for underrepresented audiences around the world.”
According to the information Google has provided in their equity fund website: “Google is committed to supporting open access to information. Our products give people choice and help them find more high-quality journalism — from international stories to community reporting — than ever before.”
Over the past 20 years, Google has collaborated closely with the news industry and provided billions of dollars to support the creation of quality journalism in the digital age. Through both our services and our direct funding of news organizations, Google is one of the world’s biggest financial supporters of journalism.
“We believe everyone, everywhere should be able to access a diversity of credible sources to get the information they need. That starts with a news industry that gives every community a voice.”- Google.
Sikkim Chronicle is selected for News Equity Fund of Google. SC is among 450 newsrooms from 52 countries in the globe that ares selected to receive funding through the News Equity Fund launched by Google.
Sikkim Chronicle is a unit of Yonika Infotainment Pvt. Limited. Sikkim’s first registered digital news platform which believes to provide right, reliable and credible news and information to the people of Sikkim and around. Sikkim Chronicle is the only media startup in Sikkim recognised by DPIIT, Govt of India. SC stands today as a small independent regional media house in Sikkim with various national recognitions and support.
The journalists under Sikkim Chronicle also have undergone various trainings and workshops under Thomson Reuters, Google News Initiative and Dataleads.
SC being supported by Google (News Equity Fund) is one of the biggest milestones in the brief journey of the media house till now. The reason not only being the financial support but also to be linked to one of the biggest tech-companies in the world that has been providing billions of dollars — sharing revenue with news publishers via their ad network, developing tools, training and funding through programs like the Google News Initiative, and launching Google News Showcase. All of these have led to the tech giants paying news organizations significant amounts of money.
The funding will surely help the media house provide people with credible and quality news/information that matters to Sikkim and Sikkimese community.