Australian Journalism Assistance Fund opens for news publishers

Grants to assist the sustainability of Australian news publishers are now available with Federal Government’s Journalism Assistance Fund 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 Journalism Assistance Fund Program, running over 3 years from 2025-26, is part of the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP). Organisations that produce core news content are eligible to apply for funding.

Eligibility criteria and guidelines can be found here.

Employers must employ journalists as staff (either full or part time) and must fulfil the Core News test for content.

The content test requires that the primary purpose of each news source is to create core news content. Under section 52A of the Act, core news content is content that reports, investigates or explains issues or events that are:

• relevant in engaging Australians in public debate and in informing democratic decision-making; or

• current issues or events of public significance for Australians at a local, regional or national level.

Applications close Thursday 30 April 2026 5:00pm AEST or until the funding is exhausted.

The link to apply: https://portal.business.gov.au/