SUSTAINABILITY & MEDIA RELIEF FUND
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) recognized the urgent need to support quality journalism, especially as many journalists faced retrenchment or struggled to sustain their livelihoods.
This growing crisis led Sanef to initiate fundraising efforts, with corporate companies and individuals generously contributing to the Sanef media sustainability and relief fund. The fund aimed to offer grants to journalists and community media establishments severely impacted by financial pressures since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Aid was provided to journalists, whether freelance, contract, or permanent, who had been retrenched or had their contracts terminated due to the pandemic-induced economic strain.
Beyond immediate relief, Sanef used the remaining funds to launch a pilot project aimed at assisting struggling publishers and community broadcasters transition to digital platforms. This initiative was designed to elevate their business profiles and improve access to digital advertising opportunities, offering a pathway for long-term sustainability in an increasingly digital media landscape.
Recent Updates on Sustainability & Media Relief Fund
Through the sub-committee on Community Media, the Sanef Council resolved to further distribute funds that were left after the Media Relief Fund disbursements towards the upskilling, training, and empowering of community media practitioners. Around R1,6 million was spent on this, with the project run by Med8, working closely with the Sanef office.
Reports link here.
The Media Relief Fund saw hundreds of journalists being assisted financially, following the negative impact of COVID-19. Over R2,1 million was spent on this – following a call for applications through three rounds. To date, Sanef has held two rounds of emergency funding. Please see the press statement we released when launching round two of our funding.
The adjudication of round two is in process. An independent panel of media stalwarts has taken all the decisions on all rounds of the funding.
