Regional Media Fund round 1

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that they:

• are a media or news gathering organisation with a primary focus of creating, producing, and distributing news and content to a readership or audience in regional NSW
• have been trading for over 12 months
• have resources located in regional NSW, or that a significant portion of the organisation’s business is undertaken within regional NSW through other means such as remote work.

Applicants must provide evidence that they are an incorporated entity by providing either an Australian Business Number (ABN) or an Australian Company Number (ACN). Applicants must be a company incorporated in Australia, a company incorporated by guarantee, an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust, fixed unit trust, an incorporated association or co-operative, partnership, individual/sole trader or indigenous corporation, and are required to provide a copy of evidence of incorporation or registration in their application.

Applicants must be financially viable and have at least $20 million public liability insurance or be willing to secure the insurance before entering into a Funding Deed if the application is successful.

Organisations that primarily provide news and content for a niche audience such as local sporting clubs, exercise groups, community groups and events, political parties, and tourism focused material will not be considered eligible.

Projects must deliver benefits in one or more of the 93 regional NSW Local Government Areas (LGA), in the Unincorporated Far West region, or on Lord Howe Island. Projects delivering benefits in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area, and the Newcastle and Wollongong LGAs are ineligible for funding.

A full list of the eligible project locations can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Examples of eligible project types include:

• developing and delivering online engagement strategies to complement and enhance existing distribution methods   
• undertaking website development and upgrades to improve the user experience and distribution
• acquiring equipment that will increase the quality and/or quantity of print or video content
• acquiring equipment to diversify content and distribution channels
• developing and trialling innovative methods of distribution that will enable more people in regional NSW to access relevant news and content.

Project types and costs that are not eligible for funding include:

• costs that are considered business-as-usual activities and operations
• projects or activities already receiving or expecting to receive NSW Government funding
• marketing, advertising and signage that is not directly related to the project
• staff wages and other employee costs such as training and development, with the exception of costs directly related to delivering the project such as project management and administration
• activities, equipment or supplies that are already being supported through other sources
• financing costs, including interest and debt financing
• costs involved in the purchase or hire of software (including user licenses) and computer equipment that is not directly related to the project
• costs such as rent and utilities unless specifically related to the project
• insurance costs (applicants must hold and maintain adequate insurance coverage for any liability arising from their participation in funded activities)
• depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project
• opportunity costs relating to allocating resources to the agreed grant project
• projects that require ongoing grant funding from the NSW or Australian government
• projects that are likely to proceed without any NSW Government financial assistance
• retrospective funding to cover any project component that is already complete before funding is announced.