KENT – Kent News, Inc. (KNI), the publisher of The Kent Good Times Dispatch, announces that it has been accepted into the fourth cohort of the Google News Initiative (GNI) Fundamentals Lab for Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) members. The live online lab begins today, June 20. This cohort has about 60 members. It is for newsrooms with a local or state-wide focus.
The 12-week program consists of six classes and group workshops to learn and apply best practices in journalism, as researched by GNI. Mentorship from INN coaches is also available to the Kent News. Training focuses on audience development, small-dollar donations, and advertising and sponsorship. Further benefits include networking with other newsrooms of a similar size and focus.
Upon completion of the Fundamentals Lab, KNI will submit a plan to receive implementation funds of up to $20,000 from INN. This money will be used to advance the sustainability of The Kent Good Times Dispatch newsroom through technology, contracted services, personnel, or other expenses, based on the GNI training. Six months after funding is disbursed, KNI is required to provide a short summary of qualitative impacts of the training and implementation funding.
