The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and Google have partnered to establish a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the sustainability and digital transformation of small, local, and independent news publishers in South Africa through targeted project-based funding - the Digital News Transformation Fund (the DNT Fund).
The DNT Fund, launched on 25 November 2024, seeks to recognise the importance of local and
independent news publishers in maintaining a vibrant, trusted, and diverse
public interest news ecosystem, and to address the resource challenges that
have impacted the ability of these publishers to plan for and embark on digital
transformation initiatives.
With a commitment of R114-million over three years
(R38-million a year), the DNT Fund will provide project-based funding to help
small, local and independent news publishers develop and strengthen their
digital operations, improve their audience reach and engagement, and enhance
the sustainability of their journalism.
Chairperson of the Association of Independent Publishers, Anetta
Mangxaba, describes the DNT Fund as a crucial lifeline for independent
journalism in South Africa:
“Local, independent publishers are essential to a healthy
democracy, acting as watchdogs for their communities and amplifying the voices
of grassroots citizens. However, in today’s challenging landscape for public
interest journalism, South Africa’s grassroots outlets face immense financial
pressures and the challenges of the digital divide.’’
Google News Partner Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa, Marianne
Erasmus, says the DNT Fund aims to support local, independent, community and
vernacular language public interest news publishers to build a solid digital
foundation, expand their audience reach, improve their reader engagement and
develop practical data strategies that will lead to a resilient commercial model.
“We’ve consulted
with and listened to news publishers and policymakers in South Africa to
develop a funding framework that will meaningfully support the digital
transformation needs of the local and community news ecosystem.’’
The DNT Fund is expected to open its first round of applications by March 2025, following industry and stakeholder consultations on its approach to funding and the finalisation of the Fund’s structures and policies.
Done By: Mitchum George
No comments:
Post a Comment