KUALA LUMPUR: The Media Innovation Fund 2.0 reflects the government’s continued commitment to ensuring the sustainability of local media companies and preventing retrenchments amid industry headwinds.
Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said the initiative would help news organisations procure up-to-date tools and equipment to bolster their platforms and develop fresh revenue streams.
“The Media Innovation Fund is not merely financial assistance for media organisations; it serves as a strategic government investment to secure the future of the nation’s journalism industry.
“This initiative enables media organisations like Bernama to strengthen their technological capabilities, develop talent and produce quality content, all without compromising ethical principles, integrity or journalistic freedom,” she said here today.
Nur-ul Afida said Bernama welcomed the continuation of the fund and intended to apply for new equipment across its 14 bureaus nationwide.
She said the move aligned with Bernama’s plans to reinforce its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven newsroom, upskill personnel and accelerate digital transformation.
“We hope that media companies will make optimal use of this fund to build a Malaysian media industry that is more innovative, competitive and sustainable in the long term,” she said.
Nur-ul Afida also welcomed the introduction of a new funding scope for news service and media content subscriptions, noting it aligned with Bernama’s mandate as the national news agency and primary content provider for domestic media outlets.
She said the category likely stemmed from feedback gathered during a media dialogue organised by the Malaysian Media Council in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) in June.
“Therefore, I encourage media companies to apply for this segment, which is designed to alleviate the financial burden of covering news service subscription costs,” she said.
Last Friday, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced a RM30 million allocation under the Media Innovation Fund 2.0 to empower the local media industry through digitalisation, talent development and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI.
He said the programme built on the original Media Innovation Fund announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with Hawana.
The fund covers five areas: media personnel training; software and technology adoption; equipment, hardware and supporting facilities; research and content development; and subscriptions to news services and media content.
Media companies receiving the grant are barred from carrying out arbitrary staff retrenchments, even when facing financial constraints.
Applications are open until Nov 14 via the official portal at https://danainovasimedia.komunikasi.gov.my/.