Federal government’s publishers’ innovation fund still yet to launch

December 3, 2018 4:22

The Federal government’s Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund appears to be still bogged down in bureaucracy, over a year after the program was announced.

Originally planned to launch in July this year as part of minister Mitch Fifield’s media reform package, the scheme was delayed after legislation was stuck in the Senate.

In the meantime, the private sector has stepped in to fill the gap with Media Super launching a $20m innovation fund for publishers in September, Google launching its Asia-Pacific innovation challenge offering up to US$300,000 for publishers’ projects and, last week, Sydney billionaire Judith Neilson launching $100m journalism fund.

Once the scheme was opened earlier this year, 186 publishers applied for grants, forcing ACMA to announce the first round of successful applicant would be announced “likely in November 2018” as the agency struggled to evaluate the applications.

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Paul Wallbank

Paul Wallbank was news editor at Mumbrella between June 2017 and June 2019. Previously he's covered business and technology issues for outlets ranging from The Australian and Sydney Morning Herald to the ABC and Business Spectator.

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