Introducing Reveal Labs, an initiative from The Center for Investigative Reporting
Local investigative reporting spotlights under-reported issues in ways few other institutions can. The last decade has presented local journalists with tools to find and report on those issues. But during that time, newsrooms have also experienced resource constraints and other challenges that have hampered their ability to produce quality investigative journalism.
This is why we’re excited to support a new initiative from The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) called Reveal Labs, which aims to empower innovation at local newsrooms across the globe. To begin, Reveal Labs will focus on projects in the following regions in the US: the South, the Northwest, the Midwest and the Northeast, and also Europe. The initiative is core to our purpose and mission at the Google News Lab: to empower journalists to use technology to create media that improves people’s lives.
The goal of this initiative is to encourage experimentation, and we hope that providing these local newsrooms with additional freedom to experiment will surface ideas other newsrooms can replicate. In addition, we’ll also provide these newsrooms with training on how to use the best of Google tools for investigative reporting — from Advanced Search to Fusion Tables to Google Earth Engine.
For nearly 40 years, the work undertaken by CIR is a testament to the impact quality investigative reporting can have. From revealing fraud to unearthing human rights violations, CIR uses cutting-edge digital storytelling to draw attention to underserved issues. We look forward to helping newsrooms across the world do the same.
In the coming months, as the newsrooms embark on their respective experiments, we’ll be sure to regularly share learnings, emerging best practices, and further opportunities for collaboration. If you’re at ONA16, stop by the Google coffee bar at 10am Saturday, September 17, to meet three Reveal Labs team.
