The News Innovation Fund Grant Program supports Australian news producers and enabling organisations aiming to increase commercial sustainability and improve the resilience of the media sector through funding for innovative new projects.
Overview
This program operates over two financial years, spanning 2026-27 to 2027-28. It is part of the News Media Assistance Program, which aims to support public interest journalism and safeguard media diversity. The total funding available across the two years is up to $31.5 million. Grants awarded will range from $10,000 to $9 million.
Funding and Benefits
The program provides funding to support the development of innovative new projects across two distinct streams:
- Stream 1: Journalism Production: Supports activities that increase journalism production and distribution, including increasing training and staffing. Eligible projects may aim to:
- Improve or expand core news content produced and distributed digitally.
- Develop the capacity and capability of Australian organisations to produce or expand their digital core news content.
- Establish and support the emergence of new journalism in under-represented areas and/or underserved audiences in Australia (i.e. ‘news deserts’).
- Stream 2: Organisational Support: Supports activities focused on the internal capacity building and commercial sustainability of Australian core news producers. Eligible projects may aim to:
- Develop or engage resources to build organisational and business capacities.
- Diversify the avenues of support for the digital core news producers through commercial means.
- Realise innovative economies of scale across multiple organisations in the provision of digital core news content.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Possess an Australian business number (ABN).
- Be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- Have an account with an Australian financial institution.
Eligible entities include, but are not limited to:
- 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.
Full eligibility criteria are available in the grant opportunity guidelines.
Deadline and Timeline
Close Date & Time: 4-Jun-2026 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
Publish Date: 22-Apr-2026
Application Process
To apply, applicants should visit: www.business.gov.au/nif
Contact Information
For further information, please refer to the following contacts: