The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has issued its first call for applications for support from media projects.

The Agency has been set up on the basis of a partnership between government and the media industry as an independent structure to support the development of community (non profit) and small commercial media. It has been established in order to help address the imbalances in access to media that have resulted from our country’s history.

The MDDA can provide a range of support for community and small commercial media – either financial (through grants) or in-kind assistance (i.e. negotiate reductions in key tariffs or leverage support). The Agency has decided to initially only invite applications from actual media projects (i.e. radio stations, newspapers, magazines etc) as well as proposals for research (including feasibility studies).

All projects applying for support must submit business plans and provide clear outputs which can be used to measure the effectiveness of any grant. The MDDA is considering how it can assist new or start up projects in developing clear plans and strategies and will make announcements to this effect early next year.

Copies of the call for applications and application forms are available on the MDDA web-site http://www.mdda.org.za or from the MDDA offices – 2nd floor The Mills, 66 Carr Street, Newtown Johannesburg.