The following is cross-posted from the Wikimedia blog. Above: Knight Innovation Award Winner Sue Gardner from Knight Foundation on Vimeo.The Wikimedia Foundation is delighted to share the news that Sue Gardner will receive the first Knight Innovation Award from Knight Foundation, in conjunction with City University of New York’s Graduate School of Journalism and its Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism. Related Link

“Knight innovation award winner selects MuckRock for $25,000 grant” on Poynter.org

“Sue’s extraordinary vision for Internet freedom and openness has helped guide the rapidly changing world of journalism into the digital age,” said Michael Maness, Knight Foundation vice president of journalism and media innovation. “Her outstanding accomplishments, first as a journalist and then as leader of the Wikimedia Foundation, have set a firm footing for the future of media.”

Sue began her career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After her time as a reporter, journalist and producer, she became the executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation in 2007, utilizing her insight while overseeing a period of extraordinary growth both in the readership of Wikipedia – now the fifth most visited website in the world – and in donations made to the Wikimedia Foundation. In recognition of her bold international leadership in media and universal Internet access, Sue will receive a $25,000 award and will grant another $25,000 to a startup of her choice in support of innovation and entrepreneurship in news and information.

Jeff Jarvis, director of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism, said, “We are committed to supporting new models for sustainable journalism and to incorporating technology developments as our industry transforms. Sue’s work clearly demonstrates her alignment with these goals. We are delighted to honor her for her brave and creative actions and accomplishments.”

The Wikimedia Foundation would like to thank Knight Foundation for publicly recognizing Sue’s leadership and dedication throughout her career. Sue is set to receive her award and speak on innovation today, Dec. 16, at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

By Tilman Bayer, Movement Communications