Deadline Date: April 30, 2026
The Australian Government has launched the Journalism Assistance Fund Program under the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) to strengthen public interest journalism and support media diversity across Australia.
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. The Journalism Assistance Fund is helping the sustainability of Australian news publishers by providing a proportion of the wages for journalists producing core news content that is distributed digitally.
The minimum grant amount is $39,000 over three years and the maximum grant amount is $7.5 million over three years. The grant amount per eligible journalist is $13,000 full time equivalent (FTE) per year, or $39,000 per eligible FTE journalist over three years. If the journalist is not employed full time with the applicant, the grant amount requested should be based on a pro-rata amount of the FTE. 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, be an entity that produces and publishes core news content that is distributed digitally and be one of the following entities: an entity, incorporated in Australia, 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, a sole trader. We can only accept applications where you provide evidence that each journalist applied for under this program produces core news content under one of your entity’s publications, you provide payroll details as evidence that each journalist applied for under this program was employed in the previous 3 months, you confirm that you intend to maintain the number of eligible FTE journalists producing core news content applied for under this program for the project period. We cannot waive the eligibility criteria under any circumstances.
The funding structure allows eligible media publishers to apply for support based on the number of journalists employed, with pro-rata adjustments available for part-time roles. Applicants must demonstrate ongoing employment of staff and compliance with financial and organisational eligibility requirements.
For more information, visit Australian Government.
