Application workshops for independent publishers run from 27 July, ahead of the Phase 1 open call
Johannesburg, 16 July 2026. The Digital News Transformation Fund (DNTF) will open its third funding round to applications on 3 August 2026. Independent news publishers across South Africa are invited to apply for project-based grants supporting digital transformation, audience development and financial sustainability.
Ahead of the call, the Fund will host a series of application workshops from 27 July 2026. The workshops are open to any publisher considering an application and cover the structure of the call, how applications are assessed, how to select the correct funding tier, and the errors most commonly seen in previous rounds.
About the Fund
The DNTF is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), administered by Tshikululu Social Investments. The Fund supports the sustainability, innovation and digital transformation of small and medium local and independent news publishers in South Africa.
The Fund is product agnostic. It does not favour any platform, format or technology. Both for profit and non-profit entities are eligible if they meet the published criteria. Press Council of South Africa membership in good standing is a non-negotiable eligibility requirement for all applicants.
Application workshops: 27 to 29 July 2026
The workshops focus on Phase 1 of the funding call. They will cover:
- An overview of the funding call and what the Fund supports
- The purpose of Phase 1 and how applications are assessed
- Choosing the correct funding tier
- Common errors and practical tips drawn from previous rounds
- Multi-year funding and what applicants should demonstrate at Phase 1
- A walkthrough of the application form
For workshop dates, times, and registration details please contact dntf@tshikululu.org.za.
Funding tiers
The Fund awards grants across four funding categories. Tier selection is a strong predictor of a successful application, and applicants are encouraged to assess their digital maturity honestly.
| Tier | Grant value | Intended for |
| Ignite | R100,000 | Publishers not yet at full Build level, establishing a first digital presence |
| Build | Up to R380,000 | Publishers with little or no digital presence, focused on foundational infrastructure and skills |
| Grow | Up to R950,000 | Publishers with a basic digital product, focused on expanding reach and capability |
| Engage | Up to R1,900,000 | Digitally mature publishers or collectives, focused on advanced innovation and scalable models |
How the call works
The call runs in two phases.
- Phase 1: An open call. Phase 1 is an eligibility and prioritisation filter. It tests alignment with the Fund’s objectives and assesses readiness and strategic fit. It is not a full technical proposal, and it is not a guarantee of funding.
- Phase 2: By invitation only. Applicants invited to Phase 2 submit a full technical proposal, including a detailed implementation plan, budget and timeline.
Applications are screened for completeness and eligibility by Tshikululu as Secretariat. Eligible applications are then scored by the independent Adjudication Committee against a standard scoring matrix. Funding recommendations are ratified by the Oversight and Advisory Board. Neither Google nor the AIP participates in funding decisions.
Assessors look for alignment with the Fund’s objectives, contribution to digital transformation, feasibility and readiness, organisational capacity and governance, public interest impact, and editorial independence with clear safeguards on the use of AI.
All applications follow the same process. Conflicts of interest are declared and managed formally, and scores and decisions are documented for audit purposes.
Multi-year funding
Projects can be funded on a multi-year basis. Multi-year funding is not automatic. Continuation depends on performance, reporting and available funds, and annual reviews apply to all multi-year projects. Phase 1 does not require a multi-year plan, but applicants should demonstrate a credible longer-term vision alongside realistic delivery in year one.
Background: rounds one and two
The third round follows two completed funding rounds, with more than R26 million committed to 43 projects to date.
Round 1 (November 2025). The Fund awarded R10.5 million to 21 independent publishers. The first call attracted 164 proposals, with funding requests totalling almost R163 million. The cohort spanned legacy community titles, digital start-ups and niche outlets across six provinces. Grantees included Grocott’s Mail, transforming a 155 year old newspaper into a digital, community centred newsroom; and the Queens Town Innovation and News Hub, which combines a local newsroom with connectivity and digital services for surrounding villages.
Round 2 (June 2026). The Fund approved R15.8 million for 22 independent publishers across all four funding categories. Round 2 grantees span seven provinces, with three projects operating at national level. The cohort ranged from first time digital launches by community newspapers to data journalism platforms and AI assisted content tools serving national audiences.
Trends across the two cohorts include sustained growth in vernacular and multilingual publishing, with the portfolio now supporting content in at least nine South African languages across all nine provinces; continued expansion of low data and mobile first distribution, including WhatsApp channels and data free browsing; the emergence of data journalism and civic accountability reporting as a sector wide capability; and a more deliberate, practical approach to the use of AI within defined editorial and ethical boundaries.
An independent internal audit of the Round 1 application process assessed the process as Generally Operating Effectively and confirmed that Round 1 was executed fairly. Following the audit’s recommendations, the Fund has implemented a centralised application tracking register, formal reconciliation checks at each stage of the process, and strengthened scoring procedures.
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
| 27 to 29 July 2026 | Application workshops |
| 3 August 2026 | Phase 1 opens |
| 14 August 2026 | Phase 1 closes at 17:30 |
| September/October 2026 | Phase 2 invitations issued |
| Summary | Phase 1 is an open call. Phase 2 is by invitation only. |
Vincent Maher, Co-Chair of the DNTF Board, said the third round continues the Fund’s focus on commercial resilience alongside digital capacity:
“Through the Digital News Transformation 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.”
How to apply
Phase 1 opens on 3 August 2026. Eligibility criteria, timelines and application requirements are available at dntfund.org.za. Details of the funded portfolio to date are available at dntfund.org.za/impact.
ENDS
About the Digital News Transformation Fund
The DNTF supports 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 financial resilience in public interest journalism. It is governed by an independent Oversight and Advisory Board, and all funding decisions are made by an independent Adjudication Committee.
Google is a global technology leader committed to advancing access to information. The AIP represents South Africa’s independent publishers, advocating for media diversity and sustainability.
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 DNTF’s operations, due diligence and impact reporting.
Media enquiries
DNT Fund Communications | dntf@tshikululu.org.za | +27 11 544 0300