Why I Didn’t Win The Knight News Challenge – And Other Complaints

OK.

You know what?

I don’t want to appear to be a sore loser.

(unfair! unfair! unfair!)

OK.

Now that I got that out of my system, as I said, I don’t want to appear to be a sore loser… however….

…….

For the second year in a row I have made it to the finals of the Knight Foundation News Challenge, only to be eliminated at the last culling.

OK.

I mean, I understand and it’s their money. They can do with it as they please.

So this morning, the Knight Foundation announced their winners – $2.74 million awarded. Here’s the list.

The vast majority of the winners (you will notice I am not on it… again), were for new technologies, as opposed to applications.

OK. Like I said, it’s their money.

In any event, the one that really annoyed me (or that I found lyrically ironic) was for $200,000 to something called Stroome.

The idea is (and let me quote them directly here)

“To simplify the production of news video, Stroome will create a virtual video-editing studio. There, correspondents, editors and producers will be able to upload and share content, edit and remix with friends and colleagues – all without using expensive satellite truck technology.”

Well, first of all, anyone with a iPhone knows that you don’t need ‘expensive satellite truck technology” any more. This is hardly ‘breaking news’ to anyone – except perhaps the folks at Knight (which, after all, is a newspaper).

But even more annoying whimsically ironic, is the fact that today, Youtube announced the release of a free online editing system that is really simple to use. Free!

So why is the Knight Foundation paying out 200k for someone to ‘create’ a ‘virtual editing stuido’? Maybe the folks at Stroome will simply link to the new Youtube software and take their checks and head for the Bahamas?

OK.

Call me a sore loser.

Just call me a loser.

But I am gonna win next year’s Knight Foundation News Challenge Grant Awards.

I know what I am gonna submit.

Rosenblum’s List.

A new technology that allows people to upload and share classified ads.

I only need $200,000 to ‘develop’ the technology.

I think it’s a winner.

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 30 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.

2 Comments
  • Rachelle June 18, 2010

    Ah man! You should have won.

    • Michael Rosenblum June 18, 2010

      THANKS!