NEWS 6

Google launches €150m fund for publishers' digital news projects

SUMMARY:

Google has launched its €150m (£109m) fund for European publishers to tap to develop new digital news projects, with large-scale grants needing approval from a council including Telegraph chief Murdoch MacLennan. Google announced its intention to launch the innovation fund in April as part of its Digital News Initiative that aims to support and improve historically often fractious relations with European publishers. The internet giant promises that the €50m annually it will award to projects over three years will come with “no strings attached” and that “there is no requirement to use any Google products”.

FACTS:

• Google has divided application criteria for funding into three pools: “early stage” prototype projects that Google will fully fund to “fast track” with up to €50,000.
• Medium-sized projects are defined as those that require up to €300,000 in funds, of which Google will award up to 70%.
• Google will also fund up to 70% of proposals defined as large projects, those up to €1m.

OPINION:

My opinion on this article is that due to developments in new and digital media, audiences access to news has become easier due or organisations making it easier to access and read. 

Sony to pay staff $8m over 'The Interview' hack

SUMMARY:

Sony Pictures Entertainment has reached a settlement with current and former employees, agreeing to pay up to $8m to reimburse them for losses, preventative measures and legal fees related to the hack of its computers last year.Hackers calling themselves Guardians of Peace broke into Sony computers and last November released thousands of emails and documents in an attempt to derail the release of the North Korean-focused comedy The Interview.

FACTS:

• The agreement calls for up to $10,000 a person, capped at $2.5m

• To reimburse workers for identity theft losses, up to $1,000 each to cover the cost of credit-fraud protection services

• Capped at $2m, and up to $3.5m in legal fees

OPINION:

My opinion on this article is that this article clearly states the cons of new and digital media, and there are people there who use their knowledge to hack other companies and reveal information. Hacking therefore can lead to many disruptions in the companies wealth as the article states how Sony will have to pay 8 million due to the loses.