Archived Grant Opportunity View - GO5700

On 13 May 2022, the Australian Government announced a total of $15 million (GST exclusive) in grants to support regional, independent suburban, First Nations and multicultural print publishers. Funding will be delivered to eligible applicants under two streams with Stream 1 providing $10 million funding for regional print publishers producing core news content in regional Australia and Stream 2 providing $5 million funding for independent suburban, First Nations and multicultural print publishers producing core news content.

Australian media organisations play a crucial role in informing Australians about events and developments that are important to their daily lives and enable them to participate in our democratic processes. Journalism is also vital in holding public office holders and those in positions of power to account and exposing wrong doing and injustice.

Access to a diversity of voices provides a critical safeguard against undue influence over Australia’s public discourse and democratic system, while effective competition enhances the incentive for media businesses to produce high-quality, accurate news and journalism.

There is a continuing decline in the quantity and quality of news. Many communities do not receive adequate coverage of issues and events due to the closure and contraction of news outlets.

Regional and local newspaper publishers remain exposed to external shocks, such as newsprint price increases which threaten to wipe out local newspaper titles for good.

The objective of the Program is to support eligible print publishers to alleviate the increasing costs of print publishing, enabling them to continue to provide core news content to local communities across Australia.

To be eligible to apply for a grant under this Opportunity you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of Goods and Service Tax (GST)
• be an eligible regional, independent suburban, First Nations, or multicultural print publisher
• produce core news content to communities

Applicants will be required to nominate for funding streams outlined below:

• Stream 1: Regional print publishers
• Stream 2:  Independent suburban print publishers, First Nations and multicultural print publishers

Further information is contained in the Grant Guidelines and the Application Form.

The expected commencement date for the granting activities is July 2022, and the grant activity is expected to continue for no more than 6 months from the day that the grant agreement is executed.

$15,000,000.00

Applications must be lodged through our online system, which can be accessed through via the following link;  

https://communications.smartygrants.com.au/RLNP2022

Applications will not be accepted through any other format.