Griffiths Innovators Application for Newsrooms

The Griffiths Innovators, funded by Richard T. Griffiths, is a program within the Journalism Innovation Lab of the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management & Leadership. Its purpose is to engage UGA journalism majors in innovation projects with news organizations — providing a rich learning experience for both members of the partnership for the benefit of local news. 

There are two versions of the program. Depending on the version you select, the student will do robust research and strategy work and then connect with your news organization in one of the following ways: 

  • Yearlong Remote (formerly known as Innovation Fellows): 2 hours per week remotely from September-April, minus breaks (40 hours total)
  • One-Week Intensive (formerly known as Digital Natives): one full week on-site during the week of Jan. 4-8, 2027 (40 hours total)

Students receive a scholarship and any travel, hotel and food costs are covered by the Griffiths Innovators program.

You can contact Dr. Amanda Bright, Griffiths Innovators director, at amanda.bright@uga.edu with any questions.

If your newsroom is interested, please fill out this application by Aug. 1, 2026. We hope to select 5-6 news organizations for 2026-2027.

BONUS: Richard T. Griffiths, of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation and a former CNN vice president, has graciously offered to present a Trusting News and Open Government training seminar for your newsroom — for free — on ways news organizations can build trust with audiences and gain better access to records, meetings, etc. See the option on the form below to request this training, and it can be scheduled at the convenience of the newsroom.
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Email *
Name, title and contact information of staff member applying for the Griffiths Innovators program: *
Name and location of news organization: *
What are the top three innovation priorities you would like a Griffiths Innovator to address in your newsroom?

NOTE: Examples include, but aren't limited to — social media strategy on any product, building or improving an email newsletter, reworking website navigation, creating video verticals or integrating video into your newsroom, increasing audience engagement, implementing Trusting News concepts, working on strategies to combat disinformation, etc.
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Which version of the Griffiths Innovators program would best suit your newsroom? *
Required
How would you describe the receptiveness of your staff to innovation and change in the newsroom? *
To what extent will your newsroom staff be available to work with their Griffiths Innovator during the version of the program you've selected? IMPORTANT NOTE: By signing up for this program, you are committing to regular communications with your Griffiths Innovator. Please make sure you have the personnel and time for that in order to honor the innovation process. *
For Innovators doing the on-site week version of the program, what hotel(s) would be nearby and appropriate to stay at during their visit? *
Richard Griffiths, former CNN vice president and senior editorial director and media ethicist for the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, gives a Trusting News and Open Government seminar for newsrooms in an effort to build trust for audiences and access for journalists. If you are interested in having Richard come to your newsroom for this type of training, please select the Yes option below. *
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A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.
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