Solutions Journalism Sponsorship Revenue Accelerator

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INTRODUCTION:

Thank you for your interest in the first Solutions Journalism Revenue Accelerator!

This program, a partnership between Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) and Blue Engine Collaborative (Blue Engine), is designed to help news organizations raise meaningful sponsorship revenue tied to solutions journalism.

It is one of four accelerators that SJN and Blue Engine will lead in 2025 and 2026, each of which will focus on a specific revenue stream.

Program goals:

Demonstrate how solutions journalism can drive sustainable sponsorship revenue.
Foster cross-functional collaboration to embed editorial and revenue innovation into long-term practices.
Support and elevate journalists as leaders in this work, sharing insights with peers in the cohort and across the industry.

How will this work?

Participating news organizations will bring ambitious ideas for solutions journalism content designed to attract sponsors. These ideas may include a series, package and/or beat addressing key community challenges and can include events, newsletters or other products.

This work must be a central part of the goals of participating newsrooms, not an add-on or side project. Newsroom teams will work in alliance with business colleagues who will be creating specific sponsorship revenue opportunities to support the work over a nine-month period.

Participating teams will receive (at no cost):

Nine months of support to build expertise in solutions journalism and sponsorship strategies.
Coaching and training from SJN and Blue Engine experts.
Travel and accommodations for a two-day kickoff meeting.
Promotion of your work through global journalism networks.
Funding opportunities of up to $10,000 to support your efforts.
The chance for staff to become certified solutions journalism trainers.

Key details:

The first meeting will be held in late March/early April 2025 and the accelerator will run through December.
Participants should plan to dedicate five hours per week to program activities.

This application is due at 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 17 and 8-12 newsrooms will be selected by the beginning of February.

Contact Information

Primary Contact: First Name

Primary Contact: Last Name

Primary Contact: Email

Primary Contact: Mobile

Organization Name

Your position in organization

Country of Organization

United StatesOther

Country of Organization

Billing State of Organization

Billing City of Organization

How did you hear about this opportunity? (e.g., through Facebook, Twitter, a blog or email from one of the program partners, which include Solutions Journalism Network, Hearken, Trusting News and Poynter. Or from an individual. Please be as specific as possible.)

Your Newsroom

What is your idea for solutions journalism content that has the potential to attract sponsors? This can take the form of a series, package, or ongoing beat. It can include products such as events and newsletters as well as stories. We encourage you to think creatively and boldly. (300 words or less)

What experience or efforts has your organization undertaken that would support your success in this program? Examples may include innovative revenue experiments tied to solutions or other coverage, experience in solutions journalism, revenue generation, product development, or community engagement. (300 words or less)

What are your top content priorities for 2025, and how does solutions journalism fit into them? (200 words or less)

What are your top financial priorities for the next year, and how does sponsorship revenue fit into them? (200 words or less)

What would you hope to accomplish as part of this accelerator? Be specific in terms of the amount of revenue raised, the amount and type of solutions coverage created, and anything else you hope to learn. (200 words or less)

Do you commit to providing data on audience, revenue, processes, and so forth, as needed, to receive personalized recommendations and track progress? (50 words or less)

Please list the people who would be part of the team directly responsible for this work. This should be a group of 3-4, who together represent both the “business” and “mission” interests of the organization and cover the following critical functional areas: news/editorial, sponsorship sales and operations, data/analytics/insights, and product/UX/technology. Be as specific as you can about what role they would play in this work.

If the size and configuration of your organization don’t have people in these roles, please outline at least two people on your team and how they would cover the four critical functional areas. Be as specific as you can about what role they would play in this work. (300 words or less)

Are you committed to any other external or internal projects that would overlap with this accelerator? If so, please tell us what you’d also be doing during this time. (200 words or less)

Is there anything else that might stand in the way of your team members attending each coaching and accelerator session and/or completing the required work, which will together take an estimated five hours per week? (300 words or less)

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