Dart Center Receives Major Google Gift

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a project of Columbia Journalism School, has received a major gift from the philanthropic arm of Google to support news professionals challenged by the global coronavirus pandemic and other crises.

The gift of $600,000 from Google.org will fund the development and dissemination of reporting resources and psychosocial support programs for journalists worldwide. 

"The Dart Center's global work to improve crisis reporting and protect journalists has never been more important than during this pandemic, which has upended journalistic practice worldwide while also making clear the vital role independent reporters must play to inform citizens and hold leaders accountable," said Steve Coll, Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism and Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. "Google's investment in Dart will help to expand its work at a critical time, informing global journalism about evolving newsroom best practices and insights from social science." 

The gift is part of a package of grants and gifts by Google to news organizations and journalism NGOs in response to the covid-19 pandemic. “We recognize that covering the coronavirus pandemic can take its toll on reporters on the front line,” Google said in its announcement.

Established in 1999, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma provides resources, training and thought leadership on covering violence, tragedy and crisis. The Dart Center is recognized as a world leader in evidence-based trauma-awareness and support programs for journalists, as well as in advancing innovative, ethical reporting on survivors of traumatic events.  The Dart Center’s core programs, supported by the Kenneth B. Dart Foundation, include the Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship, the Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma and others, as well as satellite programs extending journalist training to the Asia Pacific and Europe, the Mideast and Africa.

“Amid this grave global crisis, Google’s gift will make an immediate and ongoing difference in Dart’s ability to provide resources and training - strengthening compassionate reporting and advancing the resilience of news professionals,” said Bruce Shapiro, Executive Director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.