Think about it: every homicide in a city, every artist at a music festival, the latest polling in every campaign race. You run into problems, which leads to problem-solving, which inspires innovation. The 100% Journalism Challenge is about spurring invention and innovation inside the journalism world by pairing great ideas with Ebyline’s online platform and database of 2,000 talented freelance journalists. The prize: cash to spend on freelance journalists to make your idea a reality.

Entering is easy and anyone can participate. First, come up with an idea for reporting on 100% of something. It may help to read NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen’s original 2010 column about 100% reporting. Fill out an entry form and tell us how you’d use freelancers to make your idea happen. We’re looking for originality, ambition and potential impact to the community (even if that community is pinochle fanatics). We’re also interested in how you will use Ebyline freelance journalists to accomplish your goals so bear in mind that the prize money goes toward commissioning their work, not toward building an impressive headquarters. You can learn more about Ebyline and the freelancers on its platform here.

Prizes

A total of $35,000 will be awarded to the winners in the form of a credit to be spent on Ebyline, an online platform where publishers and editors connect with freelance journalists. Up to three winners will be selected by our judges from a larger pool of finalists. The judges will decide how to allocate the $35,000 prize among the winners and winners will have one year to spend their prize with Ebyline.

Entry Period

All entries must be submitted online between the entry period of September 12, 2012 to October 12, 2012. See Contest Rules and FAQs for more information.

Partners:

Ebyline helps connect publishers and freelance journalists in the cloud. Read more about how journalists and editors can use Ebyline to collaborate and create great, original content here.

Editor & Publisher is the authoritative journal covering all aspects of the newspaper industry, including business, newsroom, advertising, circulation, marketing, technology, online and syndicates. You can find out more here.