For the first time, Bulgarian news creators and digital native companies will have the opportunity to participate in the “Emerging News Voices Growth Lab” program. The initiative launches in early October and is being implemented by Google in partnership with the Association of European Journalists -Bulgaria.
The program was developed to help news creators, as well as media organizations founded in the last decade and operating entirely in the digital space, grow their audience, diversify their revenue streams, and achieve long-term sustainability.
According to the Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford, so-called “emerging news creators”- individuals or groups that create and distribute news content primarily through social and video networks – play an increasingly central role in the information ecosystem. The study shows that 27% of news consumers globally already rely on content creators to stay informed, with this trend being strongest among younger audiences.
“Emerging news creators particularly on social media—are playing an increasingly pivotal role in maintaining a healthy and thriving information ecosystem in Bulgaria. That’s why we support them in their mission to meet the needs of the communities they serve.” commented Elina Naydenova, a representative from the Google News Initiative (GNI).
The Bulgarian participants will have the opportunity to join series of training sessions with product experts, test their ideas for developing their online presence, and benefit from access to training and resources from leading global organizations such as the Associated Press, the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).
This marks the third collaboration between the Google News Initiative and the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria, which has covered digital skills and provided training programs in 2023 and 2024.
About the Google News Initiative
Google News Initiative is a global program by Google designed to support journalism and the media industry in the digital age. More information at g.co/newsinitiative
