R15,8m grants for data journalism, AI-assisted workflows and vernacular content

With a growing demand for data journalism, AI-assisted workflows and vernacular content, grants to the value of R15.8m to 22 independent publishers have been made by the Digital News Transformation Fund (DNTF).
2 Jul 2026
The Digital News Transformation Fund’s second funding round backs newsrooms across seven provinces (Image source: © 123rf )
The Digital News Transformation Fund’s second funding round backs newsrooms across seven provinces (Image source: © 123rf 123rf)

The DNTF is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), administered by Tshikululu Social Investments.

The Fund provides project-based grants and capacity building to strengthen digital operations, audience development, and financial resilience among South Africa’s independent news publishers.

This is the fund’s second funding round and brings the total number of funded projects across both rounds to 43.Round 2 grantees span seven provinces and all four of the Fund’s maturity tiers: Ignite, Build, Grow and Engage.

Three projects operate at the national level.

Projects range from first-time digital launches by community newspapers to advanced data journalism platforms and AI-powered content tools serving national audiences.

Trends and focus areas

The 22 Round 2 projects continue several trends observed in Round 1, while introducing new areas of focus.

  • Vernacular and multilingual publishing remains a defining feature

    • Round 1 saw strong representation from isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans and Sesotho titles. Round 2 deepens this trend, with publications in Sepedi (Seipone Madireng), Xitsonga (Nhlalala News), Setswana (Garankuwa Voice, Ko Skolong), isiXhosa (Rainbow News, Iliso Labantu News, Dizindaba), and Sesotho (The Guard, Metro News) joining the portfolio. The Fund now supports content in at least nine South African languages.

  • Low-data and mobile-first distribution continues to grow

    • Round 1 established WhatsApp channels and low-bandwidth sites as critical distribution tools for underserved audiences. Round 2 expands this further. Sivubela Newspaper is building data-free browsing for readers in KwaZulu-Natal’s Ilembe District. Iliso Labantu News is distributed via WhatsApp to reach Cape Town’s informal settlements. Tshwane Bulletin, The Guard, and Pondoland Times are all designing mobile-first platforms for township and rural audiences.

  • Data journalism and civic accountability have moved from individual projects to a sector-wide capability

    • Round 1 included projects with transparency tools and participatory reporting features. Round 2 deepens this direction. Inside Metros is a civic data and news hub focused on year-round municipal governance reporting across South Africa’s metros. Our City News (Henry Nxumalo Foundation) brings investigative journalism capacity focused on Johannesburg governance.

  • New multimedia formats and specialist content represent a growing direction

    • Round 1 saw podcasts and livestreaming as the dominant new formats. Round 2 pushes further into short-form video, with MambaOnline’s Mamba Bites series delivering three stories in three minutes for social platforms. These projects reflect a broader shift towards specialist, audience-led content models within public-interest journalism.

  • Underserved communities remain central to the Fund’s portfolio

    • Round 2 grantees serve audiences ranging from Cape Town’s Dunoon and Joe Slovo informal settlements (Iliso Labantu News) to rural Limpopo villages (Nhlalala News, Seipone Madireng), Free State’s Qwaqwa (The Guard) and the rural Eastern Cape’s Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts (Pondoland Times). MambaOnline addresses the information needs of LGBTQIA+ South Africans, a community where 60% report feeling unrepresented in mainstream media. Food For Mzansi’s work targets 244,000 emerging commercial farmers who fall outside the reach of both corporate agri-media and consumer news.

  • AI adoption has become more deliberate and practical

    • In Round 1, responsible AI use featured as a governance safeguard. In Round 2, publishers are deploying AI as a working tool. Food For Mzansi’s Agri-Pulse 360 uses RAG and Vertex AI to deliver personalised advisory content to 244,000 emerging commercial farmers. Moretele Times is integrating AI-assisted workflows for analytics and content production. Across the cohort, grantees are treating AI as a practical resource within clear editorial and ethical boundaries.

Round 2 grantees

The following 22 publishers were approved for funding following review by the DNTF’s independent Adjudication Committee:

Ignite tier (5 projects)

  1. Garankuwa Voice (Malatsi Media Institute) – Gauteng
  2. Newsfact Publication (Ntsae Media) – North West
  3. Ko Skolong (Quick Acts Consultancy Services) – North West
  4. Metro News (Page 1 Business Solutions) – Free State

  5. Nhlalala News (R81 Media Group) – Limpopo

    6. Build tier (2 projects)

  6. Injobo Newspaper (Injobo Media Group) – KwaZulu-Natal
  7. Pondoland Times (Intelekt Holdings – Eastern Cape

    8. Grow tier (13 projects)

  8. Moretele Times (Amantle Matlotlo) – North West
  9. Impact Web-Based App (APN Media and Communication) – Western Cape
  10. Rainbow News (Arts & Print Media Dev Centre) – Eastern Cape
  11. Seipone Madireng (Balaodi Publishers) – Limpopo
  12. Dizindaba / Izwi Lethu (Dizindaba Media) – Western Cape
  13. Our City News (Henry Nxumalo Foundation) – Gauteng
  14. Inside Metros (Inside Metros) – National
  15. Iliso Labantu News (IRSI Media SA) – Western Cape
  16. The Guard (Khumali) – Free State
  17. MambaOnline (MambaOnline) – National
  18. Sivubela Newspaper (Sivubela Intuthuko) – KwaZulu-Natal
  19. The Debrief (The Debrief Network – Gauteng
  20. Tshwane Bulletin (TPM Media) – Gauteng

    Engage tier (2 projects)

  21. DataDesk (Media Hack Collective) – Gauteng
  22. Food For Mzansi / Agri-Pulse 360 (Farmers For Change) – National

Growth in vernacular-language publishing

Makhosazana Zwane-Siguqa, DNTF Adjudication Committee member, says, “What stood out in this round is the improvement of the applications in aligning with digital transformation.

“These are not applications for basic websites or podcast studios. Publishers and editorial teams are presenting sophisticated and nuanced strategies for reaching their audiences through mobile-first platforms, WhatsApp channels and short-form video.

“They understand their communities, and they are building editorial products to match.”

Zwane-Siguqa adds that the growth in vernacular-language publishing and responsible newsroom AI adoption across this cohort reflects a diverse, independent media sector that is growing rapidly and deserves sustained investment.

Dedicated grants management system

An independent internal audit of the Round 1 application process, conducted by RSM SA in May 2026, assessed the process as Generally Operating Effectively.

It confirmed that Round 1 was executed fairly and did not compromise the selection of grantees.

Following the audit’s recommendations, the DNTF has implemented a centralised application tracking register, formal reconciliation checks at each stage of the process, and strengthened scoring procedures. A dedicated grants management system is in development and will be rolled out in due course.

The Fund is also establishing a consultative Stakeholder Forum, giving industry associations a structured platform to share input, raise concerns and submit recommendations to the Board.

Full project descriptions are available here.

Publishers interested in future funding rounds should visit the DNTF for information on eligibility, timelines and application requirements.

Tshikululu will also share feedback with the sector outlining ways that publishers can strengthen future applications.


 
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