The Google News Initiative is launching a COVID-19 Vaccine Counter-Misinformation Open Fund worth up to $3 million.
The “COVID-19 Vaccine Counter Misinformation Open Fund” aims to support journalistic efforts to effectively fact-check misinformation about the COVID-19 immunization process, Google said in a blog post.
The fund is global and open to news organizations of every size that have a proven track record in fact-checking and debunking activities, or partner with an organization with such recognition.
A global team of Googlers will review applications. The jury that will choose grantees is composed by the following:
- Theresa Amobi, Senior Lecturer, University of Lagos
- Ludovic Blecher, Head of Innovation, Google News Initiative
- Renee DiResta, Technical Research Manager, Stanford Internet Observer
- Susannah Eliott, CEO, Australian Science Media Centre
- Gagandeep Kang, Head of the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Christian Medical College
- Alexios Mantzarlis, News and Information Credibility Lead, Google
- Syed Nazakat, Founder & CEO, Data Leads
- Ifeoma Ozoma, Founder and Principal, Earthseed
- Baybars Örsek, Director, International Fact-Checking Network
- Andy Pattison, manager of digital solutions, World Health Organization
- Angela Pimenta, Director of Operations, Projor
- Amy Pisani, Executive Director, Vaccinate Your Family
- Yamil Velez, Associate Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
- Brian Yau, Promotion & Engagement Lead, Vaccine Safety Net at WHO
In December, the Google News Initiative pledged $1.5 million to fund a COVID-19 vaccine media hub to support fact-checking research.
