Science journalists can apply for the new Media Lab Bayern program until April 5, 2018. With Rocking Science Journalism, the Media Lab, together with the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Bavarian State Office for New Media, has launched a funding program designed to help science journalists create new digital offerings.
It is specifically aimed at interested individuals who already have an initial idea. With a mix of online webinars and workshop weekends, science journalists from across Germany can apply for the part-time program.
Wishes of camp participants taken into account
The Media Lab kicked off with the Rocking Science Journalism Camp on February 16, 2018. The approximately 70 participants from across Germany received input on current digital media topics in general, as well as concrete information from experienced startup founders in science journalism. In the afternoon, participants were able to contribute their own topics and, at the end, help develop the innovation program themselves. The Media Lab team designed the program based on the requests and suggestions collected.
"Rocking Science Journalism is aimed at anyone who wants to realize their own vision of digital science journalism. Especially in niche areas, there is enormous potential for journalistic startups, which is why we are delighted to be able to offer this program specifically for science journalism together with the Robert Bosch Stiftung,"
says Lina Timm, Managing Director of Media Lab Bayern.
"With this program, we want to help journalists think more entrepreneurially and not create one-off, lighthouse scrollytelling, but rather offer content that resonates with the market and establishes itself there in the long term."
Consulting, coaching, prototyping
The program consists of two phases: In the first three months, the projects are initially developed as prototypes in the IDEA, SOLUTION, and PROTOTYPE phases. The second phase, in the LAUNCH, GROW, and GET REAL blocks, focuses on successfully bringing the new products to market.
Participants receive input and close mentoring from startup coaches, learn innovation methods, and immediately apply them to their own projects. Experienced science journalists also accompany the program as mentors. Expert presentations from media, technology, and business complement the program. Participants also receive close advice from the Media Lab team. A prototyping budget of €1,000, which will be paid out in the second phase, is intended to help participants get started.
