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Earlier this summer, in partnership with Google News Initiative, Project C launched our first Journalism Creators Startup Lab – a free program for early-stage creator journalists. Our first cohort of 20 journalists were all based in North America or targeting mainly North American audiences. The program takes participants through a series of live labs and pre-recorded lessons, all designed to help these journalists toward their shared goal: independence and sustainability.
"I got my first sponsorship! Just wanted to update because I'm already using what I've learned (the module on financials) in the real world."
It has been a blast working with these 20 journalists and watching cohort 1 start to rely on, turn to each other for support and make real progress. It’s also been cool to see them start to take part in the wider Project C Community and even start showing up in our tally of weekly wins.
We’re not quite done with cohort one yet, but it’s already time to start recruiting for our second group. Applications are now open – this time for early-stage creator journalists based in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa (EMEA). If that’s you or someone you know, you can learn more about the program and apply here.
It's the same free 8-week program we're running right now with our first cohort in North America, but customized specifically for EMEA participants: a weekly live lab session plus async work each week on your positioning, editorial planning, audience growth, revenue foundations, and trust and safety, capped with a capstone showcase. Participants also get bonus training from YouTube and on Google’s AI suite, plus a year’s access to Project C's Slack community and three months of post-program group coaching.
Here’s what North America cohort participant Aidan Hall had to say about the program:
If you're an early-stage creator journalist in the EMEA region – building an audience, still figuring out the business side of things, ready to go from side project to something sustainable – this one's for you.
A few key dates: Applications close midnight ET, Friday, September 4. We're reviewing on a rolling basis and will follow up by email with a decision before the program kicks off the week of September 28. The lab runs through late November.
