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Andrew Jaspan-led information content platform 360info to launch for publishers in 2022

360info, a new information resource for publishers, broadcasters, schools and civic society outlets, will launch in January 2022.

After extensive development at Monash University, the project known as The Global Academy will start a month-long closed trial today, 22 November 2021, with international publishing partners representing more than 750 outlets.

360info is an independent information resource operating as a wire agency available to publishing and broadcasting content partners across the Asia-Pacific region. It is not designed to be a consumer-facing website, nor will it provide breaking news and/or opinion and commentary. Instead, it is a media resource providing contextual, explanatory and, at times, corrective information.

A registration-only platform, 360info uses SourceFabric’s open-source CMS developed for wire agencies including AAP.

Professional curators will provide the  knowledge and research from universities across the region. All content will be free and able to be reworked similar to newswire content, but under Creative Commons 4.0 International.

Through Monash’s global partnerships with other universities and research institutes, the university will also introduce 360info to a wide range of research-intensive partners.

The 360info project is led by Andrew Jaspan, founder of The Conversation and former editor-in-chief at The Age and The Sunday Age. The Asia-Pacific Hub is led by Charis Palmer, former chief of staff at The Conversation, who leads a small team of professional editors and producers based at Monash University’s Caulfield campus.

Monash University president and vice-chancellor professor Margaret Gardner said 360info was developed to provide a rich set of multi-faceted and research-based source material to news and media outlets.

“It is the aspiration of Monash that the increased availability of reliable and credible information informs public debate on the issues of importance to people around the world.

“Additionally, the project closely aligns with Monash’s commitment to address the key global challenges of the age, including climate change, geopolitical security and fostering thriving communities.”

360info Asia-Pacific editor and strategic lead, editorial and product, Charis Palmer, said: “We already have over 700 outlets. We have started with Asia-Pacific publishers, but the ambition is to grow it worldwide.

“We are in talks with other publishing partners around the world at the moment, so I’ll have more information soon.”

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