YouTube and Google News Initiative seek 2023’s Top Creator

Glen Nelson Center is partnering with YouTube and the Google News Initiative to launch a new Next Challenge division, the Top Creator Award

This past summer, Forbes reported that the global creator economy had grown to more than $100 billion with 50 million people worldwide considering themselves to be professional or amateur creators. This is extraordinary, especially when you consider YouTube was among the first to call their stars “creators” only 12 years ago.

This is why Glen Nelson Center is partnering with YouTube and the Google News Initiative to launch a new Next Challenge division, 2023's Top Creator Award, which seeks out groundbreaking creators producing high-quality news, cultural, or educational content primarily for social media.

YouTube has a mission to give everyone a voice and show them the world. With over 2 billion monthly logged-in users and availability in over 100 countries across the globe, the impact of YouTube’s services is unmatched in the industry. YouTube’s creator economy allows entrepreneurs to transform their communities – while making the world a better place.

“Content creators are the heart of our business,” said Nicolette Scott, strategic partner manager at YouTube. “The Next Challenge is a great opportunity for us to support the next generation of creators who will have a massive reach, transforming the media landscape over the coming decade.”

Google News Initiative operates with the idea that a healthy news industry benefits everyone. Since its launch in 2018, the Google News Initiative has supported over 7,000 news partners through $300 million in funding. Google News Initiative’s work across the globe, which creates quality journalism, encourages innovation, and cultivates a diverse news ecosystem is a vital resource in creating the future of news.

“Younger audiences are getting more and more of their news from content creators,” said Conor Crowley, head of startups at the Google News Initiative. “We need to invest in these creators as well as traditional media organizations to make sure they all contribute to a healthy news ecosystem.”

Entries are now open on thenextchallenge.com and will be accepted through Feb. 17.