We Don't Win Knight News Challenge - Again

OK.

You know what?

I don't want to appear to be a sore loser.

(unfair! unfair! unfair!)

OK.

Now that I got that out of my system, as I said, I don't want to appear to be a sore loser... however....

.......

For the second year in a row I have made it to the finals of the Knight Foundation News Challenge, only to be eliminated at the last culling.

OK.

I mean, I understand and it's their money. They can do with it as they please.

So this morning, the Knight Foundation announced their winners - $2.74 million awarded. Here's the list.

The vast majority of the winners (you will notice I am not on it... again), were for new technologies, as opposed to applications.

OK. Like I said, it's their money.

In any event, the one that really annoyed me (or that I found lyrically ironic) was for $200,000 to something called Stroome. 

The idea is (and let me quote them directly here)

"To simplify the production of news video, Stroome will create a virtual video-editing studio. There, correspondents, editors and producers will be able to upload and share content, edit and remix with friends and colleagues - all without using expensive satellite truck technology."

Well, first of all, anyone with a iPhone knows that you don't need 'expensive satellite truck technology" any more. This is hardly 'breaking news' to anyone - except perhaps the folks at Knight (which, after all, is a newspaper).

But even more annoying  whimsically ironic, is the fact that today, Youtube announced the release of a free online editing system that is really simple to use. Free!

So why is the Knight Foundation paying out 200k for someone to 'create' a 'virtual editing stuido'? Maybe the folks at Stroome will simply link to the new Youtube software and take their checks and head for the Bahamas?

OK.

Call me a sore loser.

Just call me a loser.

But I am gonna win next year's Knight Foundation News Challenge Grant Awards.

I know what I am gonna submit.

Rosenblum's List.

A new technology that allows people to upload and share classified ads.

I only need $200,000 to 'develop' the technology.

I think it's a winner.