MDIF has launched Amplify South Africa, a mentoring, capacity strengthening and grant funding program to help independent media businesses build their revenues, audiences and innovation.
The application window is open until midnight (SAST) on March 16, 2024, offering independent media organizations based in South Africa the chance to be part of a transformative initiative that could reshape the future of their businesses.
Amplify South Africa is designed to support a diverse range of independent media organizations seeking to develop and innovate their business in areas such as revenue generation, distribution and connecting with underserved communities, provided they meet specified eligibility criteria. Amplify South Africa invites existing independent media companies and non-profit organizations, as well as new ventures that are less than a year old, to apply.
“Amplify South Africa will provide a dynamic blend of personalized hands-on learning and collaborative networking,” said Amplify South Africa Program Director Nolwazi Tusini. “It will help a new cohort of independent media to develop the tools and skills needed to experiment with different revenue and audience generation opportunities.”
Through a tailored program of bespoke coaching, workshops and other training, Amplify South Africa will support business growth and experimentation with new business models.
With funding from the International Fund for Public Interest Media, the program builds on the success of MDIF’s South Africa Media Innovation Program (SAMIP), which from 2017 to 2023 supported 27 organizations to advance their digital innovation and made six investments in promising young media companies.
Support for successful applicants will include:
- One-on-one coaching and training to drive business growth
- Diverse media management advice by local and international experts
- Support from media start-up specialists to identify and develop optimal business strategies and models
- Focus on developing new revenue streams and building audience, while maximizing engagement and customer experience
- Advice on organization, leadership, project structure and execution workflow
- Targeted grant funding tied to capacity support to maximize effectiveness
- Workshops, hands-on-training and opportunities to connect with industry experts and fellow participants to gain insights from successful real-world examples
Find out more about Amplify South Africa, the criteria for joining the program and how to apply here, or email [email protected] for further information.