TLDR
The federal government's $31.5 million News Innovation Fund has been split between 54 successful applicants, with community broadcasters, regional publishers and First Nations media taking the largest grants. The 12 biggest recipients received 62.6% of the money.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Where the money went
The federal government's $31.5 million News Innovation Fund, paid in two tranches over two years, has 54 successful applicants, and the biggest grants have gone to community, regional and First Nations media.[1]
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia received the largest single grant, just over $3 million. National Indigenous Times and Country Press Australia each received $2.26 million, and Kore Communications, publisher of the New England Times, more than $2 million.[1]
Star News Group, Surf Coast News Australia, James Yeats and Sons, Deaf Services, Educational Broadcasters Adelaide and Western Sydney Publishing Group each received more than $1 million. Ngaarda Media Aboriginal Corporation received $979,000 and the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association $975,800.[1]
The money is concentrated. The 12 largest grantees received 62.6% of the pool, leaving the other 42 recipients to share the rest.[1]
The wider program
The fund is part of the $153.5 million News Media Assistance Program. A separate $67.6 million Journalism Assistance Fund is supporting more than 2,000 journalists at 185 Australian news publishers, including more than 90 regional media organisations.[2]
"We need Australians telling Australian stories and that can't happen without backing Australian journalists," Communications Minister Anika Wells said.[2]
SOURCES & CITATIONS
James Dore is founder and editor of Prompt the Market and Strategy Director at Bushnote, a Sydney strategy, SEO and AI search agency. He has a background in strategy, media and financial services, and led consumer product marketing at MONEYME. He writes on AI search, answer engines, technology policy and media economics.
