Google News Initiative Accelerator
Growing the APAC digital news ecosystem.
Problem
Problem
Problem
The journalism and publishing industry is under immense pressure to sustain itself amid rising challenges, from misinformation and shifting audience behaviours to financial instability. As news organisations work to secure their futures, the need for innovation is clear.
However, navigating transformation is complex; while experimentation is necessary, failure carries significant risks. Without structured support, many struggle to adapt effectively. An accelerator innovation program can provide the expertise, resources, and strategic frameworks to help news organisations evolve, ensuring they remain financially viable while upholding the integrity and trustworthiness critical to their role in society.
The journalism and publishing industry is under immense pressure to sustain itself amid rising challenges, from misinformation and shifting audience behaviours to financial instability. As news organisations work to secure their futures, the need for innovation is clear.
However, navigating transformation is complex; while experimentation is necessary, failure carries significant risks. Without structured support, many struggle to adapt effectively. An accelerator innovation program can provide the expertise, resources, and strategic frameworks to help news organisations evolve, ensuring they remain financially viable while upholding the integrity and trustworthiness critical to their role in society.
The journalism and publishing industry is under immense pressure to sustain itself amid rising challenges, from misinformation and shifting audience behaviours to financial instability. As news organisations work to secure their futures, the need for innovation is clear.
However, navigating transformation is complex; while experimentation is necessary, failure carries significant risks. Without structured support, many struggle to adapt effectively. An accelerator innovation program can provide the expertise, resources, and strategic frameworks to help news organisations evolve, ensuring they remain financially viable while upholding the integrity and trustworthiness critical to their role in society.
From distant data to real-world dialogue.
Reframe
Reframe
The news industry has grown comfortable with surface-level data - captured neatly on dashboards and polished presentations - creating an illusion of audience insight. While these metrics offer a sense of control, they often fail to reveal the deeper motivations, needs, and behaviours of real people.
By moving beyond assumptions and engaging directly with their audiences, we helped publishers uncover new ways of framing value. This shift from distant data to real-world understanding allowed them to develop propositions that resonated with their audiences, laying the groundwork for accelerated growth.
The news industry has grown comfortable with surface-level data - captured neatly on dashboards and polished presentations - creating an illusion of audience insight. While these metrics offer a sense of control, they often fail to reveal the deeper motivations, needs, and behaviours of real people.
By moving beyond assumptions and engaging directly with their audiences, we helped publishers uncover new ways of framing value. This shift from distant data to real-world understanding allowed them to develop propositions that resonated with their audiences, laying the groundwork for accelerated growth.
The news industry has grown comfortable with surface-level data - captured neatly on dashboards and polished presentations - creating an illusion of audience insight. While these metrics offer a sense of control, they often fail to reveal the deeper motivations, needs, and behaviours of real people.
By moving beyond assumptions and engaging directly with their audiences, we helped publishers uncover new ways of framing value. This shift from distant data to real-world understanding allowed them to develop propositions that resonated with their audiences, laying the groundwork for accelerated growth.
Solution
Solution
We designed and delivered a structured accelerator program for six news organisations across the APAC region, using hands-on problem solving, on-going 1:1 coaching, mentorship & peer learning opportunities.
Participants worked through growth challenges, including moving audience from third-party to first-party relationships, connecting more women to news through improved UX, and driving revenue through content and business model experimentation. This support empowered publishers to accelerate their growth while adapting to market shifts and build a resilient future for digital journalism across the APAC region.
We designed and delivered a structured accelerator program for six news organisations across the APAC region, using hands-on problem solving, on-going 1:1 coaching, mentorship & peer learning opportunities.
Participants worked through growth challenges, including moving audience from third-party to first-party relationships, connecting more women to news through improved UX, and driving revenue through content and business model experimentation. This support empowered publishers to accelerate their growth while adapting to market shifts and build a resilient future for digital journalism across the APAC region.
We designed and delivered a structured accelerator program for six news organisations across the APAC region, using hands-on problem solving, on-going 1:1 coaching, mentorship & peer learning opportunities.
Participants worked through growth challenges, including moving audience from third-party to first-party relationships, connecting more women to news through improved UX, and driving revenue through content and business model experimentation. This support empowered publishers to accelerate their growth while adapting to market shifts and build a resilient future for digital journalism across the APAC region.
471%
newsletter subscriber growth from 30k to 250k
for one participant across the length of the program.
471%
newsletter subscriber growth from 30k to 250k
for one participant across the length of the program.
25%
of newsletter sign-ups were earned organically
for one participant, through interactive content and engagement-driven CTAs.
22%
of total revenue from newsletters
up to 10% (+22%) for one participant.
22%
of total revenue from newsletters
up to 10% (+22%) for one participant.
471%
newsletter subscriber growth from 30k to 250k
for one participant across the length of the program.
25%
of newsletter sign-ups were earned organically
for one participant, through interactive content and engagement-driven CTAs.
25%
of newsletter sign-ups were earned organically
for one participant, through interactive content and engagement-driven CTAs.
22%
of total revenue from newsletters
up to 10% (+22%) for one participant.
Impact
Impact
The program advanced Google’s mission to strengthen a thriving digital news ecosystem, creating ‘lighthouse’ growth examples and a tailored toolkit to help digital news organisations scale up.
Participants developed new capabilities, sustainable business models, and strategies to expand reach beyond social media, experiment with content formats, and optimise workflows. Some saw audience growth surge by over 470%, ensuring long-term sustainability and access to quality journalism.
Our Scale Up Accelerator Playbook now serves as a blueprint for innovation programs at Google to drive news industry impact.
The program advanced Google’s mission to strengthen a thriving digital news ecosystem, creating ‘lighthouse’ growth examples and a tailored toolkit to help digital news organisations scale up.
Participants developed new capabilities, sustainable business models, and strategies to expand reach beyond social media, experiment with content formats, and optimise workflows. Some saw audience growth surge by over 470%, ensuring long-term sustainability and access to quality journalism.
Our Scale Up Accelerator Playbook now serves as a blueprint for innovation programs at Google to drive news industry impact.
The program advanced Google’s mission to strengthen a thriving digital news ecosystem, creating ‘lighthouse’ growth examples and a tailored toolkit to help digital news organisations scale up.
Participants developed new capabilities, sustainable business models, and strategies to expand reach beyond social media, experiment with content formats, and optimise workflows. Some saw audience growth surge by over 470%, ensuring long-term sustainability and access to quality journalism.
Our Scale Up Accelerator Playbook now serves as a blueprint for innovation programs at Google to drive news industry impact.
"With the opportunities presented to TDA via Google’s Lighthouse Program, we’re closer than we have ever been to creating a blueprint that can help social media news publishers around the world.”
"With the opportunities presented to TDA via Google’s Lighthouse Program, we’re closer than we have ever been to creating a blueprint that can help social media news publishers around the world.”
Sam Koslowski, Co-Founder, The Daily Aus
Sam Koslowski, Co-Founder, The Daily Aus
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