Google has launched the Global News Gaps Project, an initiative to better understand, identify, and support rising voices in journalism. It was confirmed at the World News Media Congress in Krakow that WAN-IFRA will be involved in two of the three project pillars. They are:
News Creators Project
Led by FT Strategies, this initiative aims to deepen understanding of news voices operating primarily on social media and video platforms. WAN-IFRA will join the advisory board as the lead industry association partner.
Strategic Support and Resources
Google will provide tailored training on its products and strategic consultation to support the long-term growth of 300 emerging news providers. Of these, 150 will also receive WAN-IFRA membership and Google funding to strengthen their capacity and sustainability.
“This isn’t just about access to tools,” said Jaffer Zaidi, Vice President of News Partnerships at Google, during the World News Media Congress. “It’s about helping these creators become more responsible and resilient in their work.”
The third pillar, expansion of Project Oasis, involves profiling 1,000 news creators and 5,000 digital news organisations.
The explosion of independent news voices presents both opportunity and complexity. While many are producing valuable, community-focused journalism, it’s not always easy to assess their credibility or impact. The Global News Gaps Project aims to build bridges between these creators and the established media ecosystem.
“These creators are increasingly relevant, particularly for younger users, but also in parts of the world where traditional media coverage is limited,” said Zaidi.
“From my perspective, it’s essentially an experiment. If there’s something meaningful here – and I believe there is – we all benefit. If not, we’ll learn and look at the next frontier. But this is a worthy bet.”
Well-aligned with WAN-IFRA’s focus
Separate from, and in addition to the Google project, WAN-IFRA is set to announce its own multi-year strategy and activities to engage emerging content creators and digital-native news providers (watch this space). It is doing so in recognition that boundaries of the news industry are evolving – and with them, the definition of who creates credible journalism.
Last month a high-level discussion was held between Editors in South East Asia, and audience specialist Justin Bank, formerly of the Washington Post, NPR and New York Times, to discuss how mainstream media can work with creators, and benefit from the creator economy. It is part of an ongoing industry engagement.
Similar conversations emerged at the World News Media Congress, where several speakers were asked to address this growing band of creators who are not (or are no longer) part of traditional news organisations. They include journalists who’ve launched their own ventures, community-based reporters, and even influencers with no formal journalistic background – all part of a growing and diverse cohort shaping public understanding in new ways.
While many traditional newsrooms have concerns about ethics, standards, and the lack of transparency around news gathering and sourcing, they recognise there is much to learn from news creators – particularly in areas like storytelling, authenticity, and direct audience engagement.
Learning from New Generation of Storytellers
Investigative journalist and newsroom founder Julia Angwin was one of many speakers to share optimism about the rise of these creators on stage at the World News Media Congress, noting their strong connection with audiences and their shared mission.
“I do get a lot of hope from the news creators I’ve been interacting with – they are so excited about the importance of news and serving democracy. Their audiences are so enthusiastic and have such a connection to them. Having worked for years in legacy media, I never felt that kind of connection with my audience,” said Angwin.
She added that this level of engagement offers an important lesson to traditional newsrooms: “If we can learn some of that in legacy and traditional media, it would be a huge gift… Legacy media is still doing the lion’s share of holding power to account. If we can take the best of both worlds and build on that, I think that’s a really great moment.”
Angwin also emphasised the importance of dialogue in journalism: “Responding to questions or interacting with the community is something of high value… These new influencers and creators do it in a very good way, and I think we can learn from them as well.”
Apply to join Google’s project
If you’re part of an emerging news organization – whether you’re creating community-focused content, reporting via digital platforms, or launching a new newsroom – you can apply to Google to be part of the Global News Gaps Project.
