Different Countries, Similar Problems: Together with Google and the European Journalism Center, Media Lab Bayern supports Content Startups all over Europe
The GNI Startups Lab Europe is the fourth Lab started by the Google News Initiative (GNI) to support journalism. After three labs in North and Latin America, Sandbox Hub Member Media Lab Bayern became one of the European partners for the next iteration of the programme in the summer of 2021. The European Journalism Center (EJC) is the third important link in this fourth Lab. In addition, this is the first time the GNI Startups Lab is taking place in Europe. The shared goal: To support content startups, especially those targeting underserved communities, in becoming financially sustainable news organizations.
Since then, much has happened. Among 120 applicants coming from 28 different countries, they chose 18 teams. These 18 teams were allowed to participate in a four-day digital workshop that concluded with a Pitch Day. After some tough decisions by the judges, 10 startups were chosen to participate in the GNI Startups Lab program. These ten startups from all over Europe, from Portugal to Slovenia have joined the program and are growing their business models. "Europe's strength lies in its diversity," says Lina Timm, Managing Director of Medien.Bayern GmbH, to which Media Lab Bayern belongs. And while that is certainly true for the news products in the program, which feature everything from a media platform for young girls to an offer for deaf consumers or for refugees in the diaspora (cf. image 2-4), there are also many similarities when it comes to the challenges faced by these young media organizations.
Image 2-4: Some of the participating startups
Many of these challenges relate to a question the media industry as a whole is asking: “How can we earn money, sustainably, and keep our independence?” Subscriptions and Reader Revenue are the tools of the hour, for legacy media and startups alike. But the devil’s in the detail here: Are Donations the right way to go, or paywalls? Are newsletters high up in the funnel and should they be free? Or are they an essential part of the service and should be paid for? Which additional value will make people more likely to sign up for a paid membership?
The ten teams (cf. image 5) in the GNI Startups Lab Europe are working on these questions right now. And while it's unlikely one of them will come up with a blanket solution that saves the media industry forever, it's inspiring to see them come up with the solutions that work best for them and their situations. And how they, facing resembling challenges, find such a diverse set of solutions again. Media Lab Bayern is excited and honored to support them on their journey - and hopes that it will lead them into a bright, sustainable future.
Image 5: The ten teams