The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts have created the News Innovation Fund (NIF) Program to support Australian news producers in developing innovative business practices and projects to increase their commercial sustainability.
The News Innovation Fund Program is part of the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) and will run over 2 financial years from 2026-27 to 2027-28. It was launched by the Australian Government to support public interest journalism and safeguard media diversity in Australia.
The objectives of the program are to:
- encourage innovation in business practices to support and improve the capacity of Australian news producers
- diversify avenues of support for Australian digital news producers, through commercial means
- support Australian news producers to produce core news in the face of disruption.
The intended outcomes of the program are to:
- retain or expand the capacity of Australian news producers to produce and deliver core news content and maintain editorial independence
- maintain, or increase, commercial revenue for Australian digital core news producers
- engage new Australian audiences with existing or expanded digital core news offerings
- help reduce operating costs for Australian digital core news producers with more efficient business practices.
Applicants may apply for projects that:
- promote cross-collaboration between Australian core news producers and sector bodies; and/or
- produce products that will be freely shared across the Australian news media sector support increased digital journalism production, capability building and/or commercial sustainability.
The program will have two streams, Journalism Production and Organisational Support.
- The minimum grant amount is $10,000
- The maximum grant amount is $9,000,000
To be eligible you must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- have an account with an Australian financial institution
and be one of the following entities:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
- a company limited by guarantee
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
- an incorporated association
- a co-operative
- a partnership
- an incorporated not for profit organisation or registered charity
- a sole trader.
Further information on how to apply can be found here or by contacting business.gov.au or calling 13 28 46.