Govt to offer $48 million ‘innovation fund’ for regional and small publishers

The federal government has established a new fund for regional publishers, small publishers and content providers that produce ‘public-interest journalism with an Australian perspective’.

The Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund will offer grants of up to $1 million to ‘support the growth and continuation of quality journalism in Australia’. The fund will provide up to $16 million in grants per year over three financial years, from 2018-19 to 2020-21, totalling $48 million.

Applicants must be either a constitutional corporation that publishes a newspaper, magazine or periodical, or a ‘content service provider’. Funding is available for ‘innovative and transformative projects that support the provision of public interest journalism with an Australian perspective’, as well purchasing or upgrading equipment and software, developing apps, business activities that drive revenue and readership, and training.

Grants will not be available for projects that represent ‘business as usual’ activities, with little or no change in the way the applicant produces journalistic content.

Minister for communications Mitch Fifield said, ‘The media industry is undergoing a huge transition period and regional and small publishers are feeling the pressure from new and emerging digital platforms. These grants will help relieve that pressure by providing extra funding to help them explore new options and remain competitive.’

Applications for the current round of funding close on 27 July 2018. To find out more about the fund, click here.

Category: Local news