[Johannesburg, South Africa – 6 October 2025] – The Digital News Transformation Fund (DNTF) has officially closed applications for its inaugural funding call, following strong interest from small, local, and independent news publishers across South Africa.
The 164 applications collectively requested just under R163 million in funding, compared with an available pool of R10.7 million for this first round. This is the first of six funding calls to be held over three years, underscoring the high demand for support.
The Fund will now move into the adjudication phase, with an independent panel of sector experts assessing applications in the month of October. Their recommendations will be presented for Board ratification on 10-11 November, after which contracting and disbursements will take place through to early December 2025, subject to receipt of signed contracts.
In January 2026, successful grantees will begin training and capacity building. This will include support on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) requirements, with the Fund providing templates, dashboards, and workshops to simplify compliance and strengthen impact measurement.
The R114-million Fund is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), administered by Tshikululu Social Investments. It is designed to help South African publishers build digital capacity, diversify revenue streams, and future-proof their operations.
“Through the DNT Fund we aim to strengthen the digital news ecosystem by enabling publishers to compete more effectively in advertising and unlock broader commercialisation opportunities. This will help create a more resilient and innovative sector capable of sustaining quality journalism,” said Vincent Maher, Co-Chair of the DNTF Board.
Building on this sector-wide vision, the Fund’s management emphasised the importance of swift and practical support for grantees.
“The closing of the first funding window marks an important milestone in the Fund’s journey. We are excited to work with partners to move swiftly through adjudication, contracting, and disbursement, ensuring that publishers can access support before year-end. Importantly, we will also provide training and resources to empower grantees to track and showcase their impact from day one,” said Leanne Kunz, Head of Fund.
The next funding cycle will open in March 2026 and will follow a similar process to this first call, with refinements based on lessons learned. Publishers who were not successful this round are encouraged to reapply in the new cycle.
For more information about the Fund and its application process, please visit www.dntfund.org.za.
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About the Digital News Transformation Fund (DNT Fund)
The DNT Fund is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) to support the digital transformation and sustainability of South Africa’s small to medium independent news publishers. The Fund provides project-based grants and capacity building to strengthen digital operations, audience development, and revenue diversification in public-interest journalism. It is governed by an independent board of diverse industry stakeholders and experts; neither AIP nor Google has decision-making authority.
About Tshikululu Social Investments (Fund Manager)
Founded in 1998, Tshikululu Social Investments is South Africa’s leading social investment manager and advisor. Tshikululu independently manages the DNT Fund’s operations, due diligence and impact reporting.
Media enquiries
PR Powerhouse | Yethu Dlamini | yethu@prpowerhouse.co.za | +27 065 998 0097
DNT Fund Communications | dntf@tshikululu.org.za | +27 11 544 0300
Google is a global technology leader committed to advancing access to information. The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) represents South Africa’s independent publishers, advocating for media diversity and sustainability.