Majarra Wins Google’s GNI Innovation Challenge, yet again

For the second time, Majarra has won the Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge 2022, which aims to help content and publishing companies thrive in the digital age through innovating and implementing technology-based ideas. Notably, Majarra’s “Bayanat Majarra” was selected from among 425 participating projects.

Bayanat Majarra will harness artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to analyze subscribers’ data to help them navigate the comprehensive Arabic content platforms offered by a single sign through the Majarra subscription while being more inclusive to female subscribers. Majarra has previously won the GNI challenge back in 2018.

The selected projects demonstrated all five criteria listed in the call for applications: impact on the news ecosystem; innovation; diversity, equity and inclusion; inspiration, and feasibility.

“As we continue to build the essential subscription for the best Arabic content on the internet, Majarra aims to maximize the value and give internet users the best experience they deserve and could get. And we are glad to have Google News Initiative’s support for this high-impact project that falls within our vision and plan." stated Dia Haykal, Director of Brand and Partnerships, Majarra.

About GNI Innovation Challenge

Launched in 2019, the GNI Innovation Challenge was a call for all publishing organizations, emerging media and news projects, and news agencies in the Middle East and Africa to submit their proposals for unique projects to be considered for funding and support. The proposals should embody the underlying idea of the challenge of increasing reader engagement, whether through personalizing their experiences, providing audio clips, etc., and exploring new business models, including subscription, membership, and loyalty programs, among others. The GNI Innovation Challenge reflects Google's endeavors to help publishers keep pace with the demands of the digital age by focusing on three essential ingredients, namely promoting quality content, developing business models to stimulate sustainable growth, and empowering media organizations through technological innovation.