Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group has opend applications for The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism
The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism is the largest startup competition open to nonprofit and for-profit media companies in the United States.
Benefits of The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism
- This year, $250,000 will be awarded to early-stage startups serving media and journalism. Division finalists will receive a $3,000 stipend, and the division winner will receive a grant of up to $50,000. All division winners are eligible for an additional $25,000 Grand Prize Award.
Winners are selected from up to 18 Division Finalists, who will receive:
- A $3,000 stipend to acknowledge their time as a finalist and support their travel to San Francisco, CA for the 2026 National Awards Celebration. The celebration is part of the 2026 Media Impact Forum — a funder-only gathering that centers the most pressing issues and exciting solutions in media philanthropy today.
- Training opportunities with Next Challenge partners and industry leaders.
- A mentor with relevant startup, business, and/or industry experience who will help them refine their pitch deck and pitch video, which are evaluated to determine the award winners.
- A cohort of peer finalists for networking and collaboration.
The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism Requirements
Cornerstone and Catalyst awards
- Legally incorporated for-profit and nonprofit media startups based in the United States of America and U.S. Territories.
- A venture is considered U.S.-based if it is legally incorporated in the U.S. and if the majority of employees and/or contractors live in the United States.
- Projects with a fiscal sponsor may apply only if the project is intended to become its own independent company or nonprofit organization. The project may not be a program, lab, center, research initiative, or internal venture of a university, nonprofit, or company.
- Legally incorporated no more than ten years prior to the application deadline (no earlier than March 10, 2016).
- Earned less than US $1,000,000 (gross revenue including philanthropic support) in the twelve months ending December 31, 2025. This does not include investment dollars.
- Ventures that are (1) launched and/or actively publishing and (2) are able to provide access to their content, product, or service as part of their application.
Pioneer award
- U.S.-based independent creators (individuals or collaborations). Independent creators do not need to be legally incorporated.
- Independent creators that exercise editorial control over their own work and are not structurally employed by or contractually subordinate to a media institution. This work may not be a program, lab, center, research initiative, or internal venture of a university, nonprofit, or company.
- Earned less than US $1,000,000 (gross revenue including philanthropic support) through their publishing work in the twelve months ending December 31, 2025. This does not include investment dollars.
- Actively publishing and able to provide access to their content, product, or service as part of their application.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
10 March, 2026
Opportunity Application
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The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism
Apply for The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism
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