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In a groundbreaking move for South African journalism, the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), in collaboration with Google, has established the Digital News Transformation (DNT) Fund. This new initiative introduces the most substantial investment in community media within the region, aiming to offer substantial support to local journalism amidst its current financial and operational challenges.
Anita Mangxaba, chairperson of the AIP, heralds the DNT Fund as a crucial development not just for financial aid but as a catalyst for innovation in the media sector. Launched with a commitment of R114 million over the next three years, starting March 2025, the fund is tailored to bolster digital transformation, support public interest journalism, and enhance diversity and inclusion among independent local publishers.
Facing the grim repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to a halt in physical publishing and severe economic strains, local media outlets are in dire need of such a lifeline. The initiative addresses these issues systematically through financial grants and developmental programs, ensuring that the grassroots media sector can thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The DNT Fund will restrict its applicants to those who strictly adhere to producing original public interest journalism and are not already benefitting from similar Google agreements like the Google News Showcase, unless constrained by language or other specific limitations. This strategic funding excludes news aggregators, general interest magazines without a commitment to public interest journalism, and broadcasting services, ensuring a focused and effective application of the resources.
Management and oversight of the DNT Fund will be handled by Tshikululu Social Investments, with a governance structure including various industry experts and representatives from both the AIP and the Press Council of SA. This setup aims to ensure accountability, transparency, and adherence to strict conflict of interest policies, with Google notably excluding itself from the decision-making processes.
Marianne Erasmus, Google News partner lead for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized that the fund aims at empowering local, independent news entities especially those serving dialectal language communities to carve a strong digital presence. This is seen as vital in expanding their readership and enhancing user engagement while anchoring long-term financial viability through clever, data-driven strategies.
Parallel to the DNT Fund, the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has been playing a supportive role through various initiatives such as the Sustainability & Media Relief Fund, which has dispersed over R2.1-million to aid journalists and community media affected by current economic adversities since 2020.
Looking ahead, the introduction of the DNT Fund is seen not just as a financial boost but as a transformative force that is inviting media professionals across the spectrum — from journalists to editors and academics — to innovate and revitalize the local media landscape. This is a critical juncture for South African media which requires collective effort and innovative thinking to navigate the future confidently.