About WDF
Partners Program
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Partners
Program (currently inactive)
Web Lab has received funding for the last two rounds of the WDF from PBS and the Ford Foundation. Through the new WDF Partnership program, Web Lab seeks to create opportunities for technology innovators, major web sites, foundations, and both for-profit and non-profit organizations to work with us directly in the WDF process.
In addition
to the open call for proposals, Web Lab will create sponsored tracks, each
with a different focus and agenda. Web developers creating proposals will
be able to select from an assortment of these tracks upon which to focus
their creative energies.
One track might
request proposals that, say, explore how the Web can more effectively educate
children about the legal system, while another track might offer an innovative
tool for creating on-line dialogues and ask for new ways to implement it.
Each track will be sponsored by and developed in conjunction with a different
partner, tailored to each partner's unique needs, goal or mission.
Services
Web
Lab will offer the following services for WDF partners:
Consultation
The
first thing a WDF partner receives is an intensive consultation to help
the partner identify how best to use the skills and resources Web Lab
offers.
Request
for Proposals
In
conjunction with a WDF partner, Web Lab writes a request for proposals
for this partner's track, creates an on-line database to accept proposal
submissions, announces the track as part of the next round of the WDF,
adds the track to the WDF Web site, and publicizes the track throughout
the WDF promotion period. Proposals are then accepted and managed through
a proprietary on-line database system.
Evaluation
Every WDF submission goes through an extensive evaluation process in which
it is critiqued by Web Lab's staff and a broad group of specially selected
and trained reviewers over a period of months.
How the process
continues at this point depends on the needs of each individual partner.
In the past, a "short list" of the strongest contenders has gone to the
WDF Editorial Committee, a special group of Web industry leaders and experienced
practitioners who meet to discuss each project in detail and make recommendations
to Web Lab.
Web Lab then interviewed the project teams behind the most viable proposals and worked with them to strengthen their vision for the site and to cover all necessary contingencies. After these conversations, the project teams re-wrote their proposals, which were then sent to PBS Online for their comments, questions, etc. (Under our contract with PBS, PBS must "sign off" on any projects that Web Lab proposes PBS host.)
Site
Development
As
an editor works with a book author, Web Lab works closely with the project
team, assisting them with such things as scheduling, handling their relationship
with the staff at PBS Online, and keeping the project within the appropriate
conceptual and budgetary scope.
Promotion
The
site is jointly promoted by Web Lab and PBS Online targeting both journalists
and a broad reach of high-visibility press venues.
On-going
Production
Once
the site is launched, Web Lab continues to work with the site producers
to ensure that the site evolves over time and is enriched and informed
by visitors and contributors to the site.
A
la Carte
We
can discuss providing a more customized approach with interested sponsoring
organizations.
If you would like us to let you know when we reactivate the Web Development Fund Partners Program, please send an email to partners@weblab.org.