MDDA gives additional funds to small media

The MDDA awarded the first grants in January to assist community and small commercial media projects meeting the criteria set in the agency's funding regulations. Decisions on applications are made quarterly. To date the MDDA's board of directors has approved 10 media projects, five community radio projects, three community print initiatives and two small commercial print projects.

The MDDA was established as a partnership between the South African Government and major media entities in the country to support community and small commercial media in order to promote diversity and plurality.

Libby Lloyd of the MDDA said the board also earmarked further funding for another two rural community radio stations, once it had received a clear breakdown of their needs. She said another 10 applications were refused and those were mostly new community radio initiatives that had not yet received licenses.
"The MDDA decided not to provide financial support to unlicensed community radio initiatives until it was clear when the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) would commence with further licensing of community radio stations," she said.

In terms of broadcasting legislation, ICASA has to conduct a review of community radio policies before reopening applications.

Some of the recent MDDA beneficiaries included:

1. Moletjie Community Radio near Polokwane that received funds to assist in buying materials to build a studio on land donated by a local chief.

2. One of South Africa's oldest community radio stations, Moutse FM, has also been awarded a grant for mentoring and organisational development. It broadcasts to Moutse Village in Limpopo but also reaches nearby areas like Dennilton, Marble Hall (in former KwaNdebele homeland) and Grobbelaarsdal in Mpumalanga.

3. Workers World Radio Production, a non-profit radio production agency owned by all union federations. It produces programmes on labour issues for about 40 community radio stations around South Africa. Their grant will be used to provide training to producers from community radio stations and labour activists.

4. The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) also received a grant to conduct studies into signal distribution, the establishment of joint services for community radio (e.g. procurement agency, advertising agency etc), and convergence or connectivity. The MDDA board said it approved these grants because it believed such studies would assist the community radio sector in overcoming some of the problems affecting their sustainability.

5. Barberton Community Radio in Mpumalanga received a grant for mentoring and organisational development.

6. In the print media sector, Amazwi Magazine, a new non-profit print media initiative in KwaZulu Natal in Hluhlwe and Mkhuze areas also received funds. The project aims to offer writing and productions skills to people from the community, whilst producing a magazine that will focus on cultural and tourism issues. The initiative has received a grant to cover start up fees and assist in developing the concept.

7. Nkomazi Voice, a non profit newspaper distributed in the Nkomazi area of Mpumalanga also got funding.

8. Agenda, a feminist media project based in Davenport, Durban, received a grant to upgrade equipment to reinforce their website training of women writers and to cover the production costs of one magazine per year over the next three years.

9. Genuine, a family magazine in KwaZulu Natal received a grant for capacity building to assist it to develop a sustainable business plan.

10. And Leseding News, a small commercial newspaper based in Rustenburg received support for research, training and equipment.

People wanting to know more about recently or previously approved grants or interested in the MDDA's funding regulations outlining details of its support to community and small media organisations battling against financial challenges, can visit the website: www.mdda.org.za.