PUTRAJAYA: The Media Innovation Fund, aimed at assisting news outlets in adapting to changing times, will pay out RM10.3mil to 34 media organisations, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said these are under the first phase which drew 50 applications from media organisations.
Under the second phase from Feb 9 to 22, he said 19 media organisations applied for the government fund.
He said the third phase of the initiative will commence tomorrow and end on March 14.
“The response shows growing confidence and eagerness among industry players to innovate. The fund is not just about embracing technology but to ensure media outfits can stay relevant, competitive and deliver accurate, ethical and quality information to Malaysians,” he told his post-Cabinet press briefing here yesterday.
Fahmi said the initiative is also a catalyst for building a progressive and sustainable media ecosystem especially with rapid changes taking place in the industry.
He said the funding was from a RM30mil allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2025 last year to spur the media industry.
The minister said the fund was mainly for local outlets to transform their business models along with the digital era, embrace new technologies, uphold content quality and improve the skills of the workforce.
