News Innovation Fund Grant Program

Total funding: Grants range from $10,000 to $9,000,000.
Two funding streams: Stream 1 (Journalism Production) and Stream 2 (Organisational Support).
Matched funding / co-contribution: grant amount is up to 100% of eligible expenditure; applicants are responsible for remaining eligible and ineligible project costs.
Timing: successful applicants are expected to commence around August 2026; earliest start is from the date the grant agreement is executed; projects must be completed by 31 March 2028.
Applications close: June 4 2026

The News Innovation Fund supports Australian news producers and enabling organisations to deliver innovative projects that strengthen commercial sustainability and improve sector resilience. Funding is available for new activities that expand or transform digital core news production, distribution, internal capability, or business sustainability.

Projects can focus on journalism production outcomes (including increased training, staffing, coverage expansion, and improved distribution) or organisational support outcomes (including capacity building, revenue diversification, and shared efficiencies across multiple organisations). Grants range from $10,000 to $9,000,000, and may cover up to 100% of eligible expenditure, with applicants responsible for remaining project costs. Projects must be completed by 31 March 2028, with commencement expected around August 2026.

Key Requirements

Support innovation in business practices and/or diversify commercial support for Australian digital news producers, while retaining or expanding capacity to deliver core news content and maintaining editorial independence.
Deliver outcomes aligned to the program’s objectives, including innovation in business practices, diversifying commercial avenues, and supporting core news production in the face of disruption.
Submit a project that is a new activity and expands or transforms digital core news production/distribution, commercial sustainability, and/or internal capacity/capability/resources.
Specify one stream in the application (Stream 1 or Stream 2).
Deliver the project within the required timeframe (completion by 31 March 2028)

What is eligible for funding?

Stream 1 (Journalism Production):
- expand coverage areas (e.g., transmission equipment, travel assistance),
- expand coverage type (e.g., new distribution platforms, podcast/audio production equipment),
- employ new journalists,
- increase circulation of content (e.g., newsletter distribution, SEO),
- purchase research assets,
- train/upskill staff for core news production,
- develop editorial support resources,
- build community partnerships to reach new or hard-to-reach audiences.

Stream 2 (Organisational Support):
- build/diversify revenue streams (e.g., subscriptions, micro-transactions, advertising, marketing, e-commerce/marketplace),
- hire new support staff,
- expand infrastructure (e.g., equipment, fit-outs),
- train/upskill administrative staff,
- engage external support services (e.g., web publishing, accounting, software subscriptions, legal advice, HR),
- resources for commercial sustainability (e.g., business management, digital hosting/distribution software/interfaces).

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants must have an ABN, be GST-registered, and hold an account with an Australian financial institution, and be one of: incorporated Australian entity; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (CATSI); company limited by guarantee; incorporated trustee for a trust; incorporated association; co-operative; partnership; incorporated not-for-profit/registered charity; sole trader.

Additional considerations:

News organisations must confirm prior relevant grant history or provide evidence their primary purpose is creation and distribution of digital core news content.
Enabling organisations must confirm enabling support services provided to Australian news organisations within the last 5 years, or demonstrate capacity to provide these services.
Only one application is permitted from any related bodies corporate; joint applications are allowed with an eligible lead organisation

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

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