Funke Named Google News Lab Fellow

Daniel Funke, a senior journalism student at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been named a Google News Lab Fellow.

The Google News Lab Fellowship offers journalism students from around the country the opportunity to apply for one of eight summer work experiences at premier journalism organizations including Nieman Journalism Lab, Pew Research Center and ProPublica. More than 1,800 applications were received for the eight fellowships this summer.

“I’m excited to be part of a program that I’ve admired since I started college and I can’t wait to keep learning about how technology can help solve some of journalism’s most pressing problems,” Funke, a native of Alpharetta, Georgia, said. “The media industry is at a crossroads, and I can’t think of two organizations that are better suited to tackle the future of news. Having the opportunity to report on the media alongside some of the industry’s brightest minds is an honor.”

Funke has been assigned to the Poynter Institute where he will be a contributor to Poynter Online through publishing video, data and interactive storytelling techniques. He will contribute to Poynter’s conversations about the future of journalism, as well as to their social media presence. The summer program begins with a short course with the other fellows at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, to learn more about the News Lab.

Funke is double majoring in journalism and international affairs, minoring in Spanish and earning a certificate in New Media. During this time at Grady College, he has served as the editor-in-chief of the Red and Black and was a Cox Innovation Fellow with the Cox Institute for Journalism Management, Leadership and Innovation where he created a podcast, “The Lead.” He studied business journalism in New York as a Cox Fellow with the Society of American Business Editors and Writers and was a McGill Fellow. His previous internships have included experiences at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USA Today College and The Los Angeles Times.

Keith Hendon, journalism professor and director of the Cox Institute, has worked closely with Funke through his Cox fellowship and involvement with the Mobile News Lab.

“Daniel has demonstrated what it means for a journalism student to study innovation in this field,” Herndon said. “He is eager to explore new models for creating and distributing news. This national recognition is well deserved and a testament to his work ethic and willingness to continually try new things.”

In addition to the fellowship, Google News Lab has also created a university training network affiliated with universities from around the globe, including the Cox Institute at Grady College. The university network shares resources and best practices for training with Google’s extensive set of tools for journalists and news organizations.