Deadline: 21-Sep-2025
The Digital News Transformation Fund is now open for applications to help local and independent publishers grow digitally, produce impactful journalism, and build long-term sustainability.
The fund’s objectives are to deliver public-interest journalism, drive digital transformation, and boost financial sustainability and audience engagement. Funding is available in three tiers. The Build tier provides up to R380,000 annually for foundational digital capacity. The Grow tier offers up to R950,000 per year for organizations looking to expand their digital reach. For advanced innovation and revenue models, the Engage tier provides up to R1,900,000 annually. Multi-year funding of up to three years may also be possible, contingent on performance and an annual review.
Eligible applicants include local and independent news publishers in South Africa, as well as industry bodies, associations, or support organizations that serve the local media ecosystem. Collectives or consortiums proposing industry-wide projects are also invited to apply.
Applicants must be legally registered entities, be Press Council members in good standing, and have audiences or readership that comprise at least 75% black beneficiaries as per the B-BBEE Act. They must also be tax compliant and demonstrate organizational capacity and a genuine commitment to digital transformation.
Ineligible entities include aggregators, general-interest magazines, and broadcasters. The fund also does not support political parties, campaigns, or projects with political propaganda. Publishers with over 1 million monthly unique visitors cannot apply, nor can unregistered or non-compliant entities. Projects implemented outside South Africa, unless they benefit South African audiences, are not eligible for funding, and no retrospective funding is provided for completed activities. Application closes on 21 September 2025.
For more information, visit DNTF.
