JOHANNESBURG – South Africa's new Digital News Change Fund has announced the appointment of the first board of directors, consisting of a diverse group of respected media leaders.
The board is piloting South Africa's new R114 million initiative, strengthening the country's qualified independent publishers, including community and local outlets.
The fund is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), which is independently administered by Tshikululu Social Investments.
The first board will support the fund's public interest delegation as it provides strategic direction, ensures transparent governance and prepares to launch the initial call for proposals in August.
Government representatives had been appointed to the board.
Board configuration
Co-Chair:
Vincent Maher (CEO, Broadband) Anetta Mangxaba (Chair, AIP; CEO, Dizindaba Media)
board member:
Styli Charalambous (co-founder and Daily Maverick) Marietta Lombard (Caxton Greater Johannesburg Metro) Mbali Dhlomo (Intutuko Newspaper) Sebenzile Nkambule (regional director, MDIF)
Advisor:
Dr. Kate Skinner (AIP Executive Director) Izak Minnaar (Media Consultant)
“Independent urban and rural publishers, big and small, across all our languages, are the backbone of local democracy and community development,” said Anetta Mangxaba, co-chair of the board.
“We often tell the story of our community first and then leave last when the spotlight fades.
“This fund is an important step to ensuring that not only AIP members but small and medium-sized independent publishers have the resources they need to survive and thrive.
“Our goal is to truly accessibility, equity and meaningful ground transformation that enhances media diversity and strengthens local voices.”
The fund's governance model is built to ensure transparency, equity and long-term impact.
The board provides strategic oversight, specialized advisors provide deep sector expertise, and funding decisions are made independently by an arbitrary committee guided by a well-defined eligibility framework.
Daily leadership is provided by Leanne Kunz as head of the fund.
She brings extensive experience in digital media, newsroom innovation and capacity building, and will lead the implementation of the program as the fund prepares to launch its first proposal in August.
“We support initiatives that modernize our newsrooms, expand our audiences and diversify revenue streams. Everything from overhauling CMS and data architectures to maneuvering new products, membership models, and creative commercial experiments,” Kunz said.
“Importantly, all grants are combined with practical training, mentorship and peer-to-peer support, so publishers will embed these changes and gain the skills and confidence in building journalism that advocates for a resilient community in the long term.”
The following timeline outlines the key dates for the Digital News Transformation Fund's first funding cycle.
• August 25, 2025: Start and call for proposals
• September 21, 2025: Application closed
•September 22 – October 27, 2025: Arbitration and Due Diligence
•October 27 – November 9, 2025: Ratification of the Board
•November 10 – December 7, 2025: Contract and payment (on receipt of the signature agreement)
•January 12, 2026: Training begins
About the Digital News Transformation Fund (DNT Fund)
The DNT Fund is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) that supports the digital transformation and sustainability of small independent news publishers in South Africa.
The fund provides project-based grants and capacity building to enhance digital operations, audience development and diversification of revenue in public interest journalism.
*This article was first published in sister publication TechFinancials
