Table Stakes Product Development Grants

Table Stakes Product Development Grants

Award Amount: $5,000 per organization

Overview:
The American Press Institute awarded grants to six news organizations participating in the product development sprint for alumni of the Table Stakes Local News Transformation Program. The grants supported the launch and maintenance of products developed through the program.

Focus Areas

• Product development and innovation
• Audience research-driven products
• Revenue and resilience initiatives
• Community-serving products
• Newsletter products
• Podcast expansion
• Digital platforms and tools
• Content verticals

Eligibility

• Table Stakes Local News Transformation Program alumni
• News organizations participating in the product development sprint

Geographic Scope

• United States

Program Duration

• February to July 2023 (learning and development phase)
• Grants awarded July 2023 for ongoing launch and maintenance

Funded Products Examples

• Virtual chat platforms connecting audiences with journalists
• E-commerce merchandise stores
• Paid newsletters (food, climate, health coverage)
• Podcast expansions with video components
• Content verticals (climate, high school achievement)

Coaching Support

• Continued coaching from product experts: Shannan Bowen, Nation Hahn, Nunzio Michael Lupo, and Eric Ulken

Program Features

• Audience research and problem identification
• Prototype development and testing
• User research and iteration
• Collaboration with News Product Alliance

Funding Source

• The Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund (joint initiative of John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism)

Contact

Emily Ristow Director of Local News Transformation emily.ristow@pressinstitute.org