Thousands of dollars are at stake for students who can solve a problem in the journalism industry, posed by multiple media companies.
The Scripps Innovation Challenge is in its second year, and students participating in the challenge have the chance to win $10,000 and potentially partner with media outlets to execute their ideas.
The challenge began last year as a way to promote media innovation and to encourage OU students to work collaboratively across majors.
“The whole idea behind it is to get (Scripps) students interacting with students from other backgrounds and realizing that not every great idea is going to come from this college,” said Robert Stewart, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
The individual teams have set out to solve challenges put forth by Ohio media outlets, announced in early December.
One challenge asks students to find a way to monetize the approximately 190,000 Columbus Dispatch Twitter followers. Other challenges come from outlets such as WBNS-TV, WCMH-TV, and WOUB.
In April, the finalists will present their solutions to industry professionals, with the best solution winning $10,000 for its creators.
“From there, it could go a million different ways,” said Andy Alexander, Scripps Howard visiting professional. “(Media outlets) might hire the student, they might pay a stipend, or if the idea warrants it, they might seek venture capital.”
The prize money comes from a Scripps Howard Foundation endowment granted in 2006 to the Scripps College of Communication.
“The $15 million gift set up a number of funds including the Innovation Fund, to which $3 million (of the $15 million pledge) was directed to establish an endowed fund with the goal of supporting research and creative activities” said Robin Stock, senior director of development at the Scripps College Of Communication, in an email.
The large prizes make this one of the most lucrative media innovation competitions out there, Alexander said, and the college hopes to make the competition even more lucrative by expanding the competition beyond OU.
“We would like other students to get a flavor of what an innovation challenge is,” said Michelle Ferrier, associate dean in the Scripps College of Communication.
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2013-2014 Challenges
Challenge 1 Create a better way to inform central Ohio residents about closings, cancellations or postponements prompted by severe weather or other causes.
Challenge 2 A news organization with close to 190,000 Twitter followers is looking for ways to monetize this loyal and growing audience.
Challenge 3 Create a “loyalty program” game that increases your audience by rewarding those who participate in on-air or online activities.
Challenge 4 Create a way to repurpose news content in a manner that appeals to millennials.
Challenge 5 Create a way to verify the accuracy of User Generated Content, like photos or video clips, submitted to news organizations by members of the public.
Challenge 6 Create a non-traditional 4 p.m. newscast with a significant digital emphasis that allows viewers in a metro market to personalize and customize their news experience.
Challenge 7 Create a solution, either face-to-face or through technology, to engage Southeastern Ohio residents throughout the news cycle.
Source: Scripps Innovation Challenge
