GO7976: Journalism Assistance Fund

The Journalism Assistance Fund Program, running over 3 years from 2025-26, was announced as part of the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP).

News MAP aims to support public interest journalism and media diversity in Australia - recognising these are critical to a healthy democracy, social cohesion and informed citizens.

Organisations producing core news content will be eligible for funding.

The funding will provide a proportion of the wages for journalists producing core news content that is distributed digitally.

The program aims to: support the sustainability of Australian news publishers in the face of significant disruption to the media sector support the creation of digitally distributed news content, encourage continued employment of journalists who primarily produce news that is in the Australian public interest build and maintain social cohesion in Australia

To be eligible applicants must have an Australian Business Number (ABN), be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST), have an account with an Australian financial institution, and be an entity that produces and publishes core news content that is distributed digitally and is one of: a company, 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, or a sole trader.

Applicants must provide payroll details showing each journalist applied for was employed in the previous 3 months, provide one example of digital core news content produced by each journalist (with byline, produced no earlier than 3 months from application date, attachment or accessible link, and translation if not in English), and confirm intent to maintain the number of eligible FTE journalists for the project period.

The eligibility criteria cannot be waived.