by Joe Siegel

Rough Draft Atlanta, which owns and operates Atlanta-based Georgia Voice, was one of 12 organizations selected for the second year of the Google News Initiative (GNI) Growth Catalyst Program, an initiative designed to help already successful news organizations achieve significant growth through geographic expansion. More notably, Georgia Voice was the only LGBTQ publication selected.

The June 30 announcement read: “Over the next year, these organizations will receive funding from GNI and coaching support from Blue Engine Collaborative as they pursue expansion into new communities. Together, they represent a wide range of business models, markets, and audiences, but share a common goal: bringing high-quality local journalism to more people.

“The program’s goal is simple: identify impactful local news organizations with the potential to serve more communities and provide the funding, coaching, and strategic support needed to make that growth successful. Through a detailed review process led by Blue Engine, we found that roughly three-quarters of applicants presented expansion opportunities with strong potential for success given the right resources and execution. More than 60 organizations stood out as exceptional across nearly every area we evaluated, including market opportunity, organizational readiness, audience strategy, business model, and long-term sustainability.”

Publisher Keith Pepper said the program will benefit all Rough Draft Atlanta properties, including Georgia Voice.

“The financial health and the vibrancy and sustainability of Rough Draft means that Georgia Voice continues to publish and hopefully grows as we go into new markets as Rough Draft, so we’ll cover LGBTQ news in those markets as well. It’s a good thing for everybody.”

The funding will allow Rough Draft “more resources to cover LGBTQ news, art, culture, food, and those markets as well,” said Pepper.

As for Blue Engine Collaborative, Pepper said Rough Draft “has a coach that we work with on a bi-weekly basis and they give us milestones to hit.”

Pepper noted Rough Draft doesn’t know where they will expand since the process is in the very early stages. Any information about Rough Draft’s plans will be made public, Pepper added.

IN THE NEWS
Volume 28
Issue 7