Call for Application: Local News Accelerator 2025 (open to media organisations globally)

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About Local News Accelerator

IPI launches the call for Local News Accelerator to support digital innovation in local news around the world for medium and long-term viability.

IPI’s Local News Accelerator is a four-month programme where you and your organization will take practical steps towards investing in your local media business’ financial and editorial sustainability. The programme, already in its third edition, offers personalized advisory services, tools and guidance to help you reach audiences, grow into an engaged, responsive media brand and have access to a community of local news practitioners.

Key activities

• One month of direct needs assessments to identify your pain points, problem statements and map solutions. 
• Intensive training focused on tools and skills that can be transferred to your newsroom well beyond the duration of the accelerator, focused on problem solving and identifying solutions, audience research, strategic planning, journalism formats – audio, video, newsletters – built for user engagement, digital business models and diversifying revenue models.
• One-on-one personalized advisory services bespoke to the needs of your newsroom, with flexible, on-demand industry experts as coaches during the accelerator.

• Sponsor Organisation: International Press Institute (IPI)

Benefits of Local News Accelerator

The accelerator is designed to support local newsrooms getting started or pivoting their business. From their work with local, regional and niche publishers, they understand the key challenges you’re facing. They provide structure and support to identify and help deliver solutions that will advance their projects toward financial and editorial sustainability. IPI’s in-house experts will conduct a comprehensive one-on-one needs assessment and provide guidance and personalized advisory services to maximize successful applicants’ benefits from the programme. In addition, you will gain access to a community of local news innovators from around the world.

Local News Accelerator Requirements

• You should be a legally registered media organization from anywhere in the world.
• Demonstrate a clear focus on serving local audiences, with news tailored to the specific needs of the local community. 
• Your organization should demonstrate a commitment to producing quality original journalism, adherence to ethical journalism practices and commitment to press freedom.
• Your organization must have a team of at least two individuals who are willing to commit to accelerator activities throughout the four months ( four hours per week, divided between the team of two).
• Your media should have a solid business case and understanding of your audience, backed up by audience or market research.
• Your media should demonstrate a willingness to explore and implement new ideas, tools and technologies to enhance storytelling and audience engagement, while learning from experts and each other.
• Your media should have a clear vision for the future of their media organization, including plans for how they will grow, expand and/or adapt.
• You must submit a proposal outlining a specific need and solution (Note: it is anticipated that this project will change or evolve during the accelerator period).

Application Date and Process

Apply by submitting the application form here. Applicants can save the application form by clicking “save” and returning to it until they have completed it and are ready to submit. They will be emailed a link to their application, which they can return to until 24 August 2025 [23:59, CEST]. Once the application is submitted, it can no longer be edited.

Only applications in English received via the Jotform platform by the stated date and time will be considered. You will receive an email confirmation of your submission.

A jury comprised of internally appointed experts will select the projects to participate in the accelerator. Applications will be assessed based on the criteria established in the call.

If you’re not sure about your eligibility, contact innovation[a]ipi.media or sign up for their upcoming info sessions on July 28, at 15:00 CEST, and August 11, at 11:00 CEST.

Application Deadline

24 August, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Local News Accelerator

Apply for Local News Accelerator