RFAs: Walkley Solutions Journalism Fund

The funding program aims to support solutions-focused public interest journalism in the Australian media.

Funding Information

• Applicants can apply for a single amount of up to $30,000 with a minimum grant of $5,000.
• The project must be completed and acquitted within 12 months of funding being granted.
• Funding is available for stories or new projects that have not already underway and have no other source of external funding.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications can be made by eligible news organisations, or by individual journalists.
• Organisations and individuals who have received funding from the Meta Australian News Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, are eligible to apply.
• In the case of organisations, full-time employee staffing costs or consultants will not be funded by this program. However, part-time, casual and contract staffing costs, as well as the extension of hours of current part-time staff, are eligible for funding.
• Organisations applying for funding must:
  • Be an eligible Australian-based media organisation with its primary business being the creation of news or informative content.
  • Have demonstrated business operations for a minimum of one year prior to applying to the Program (based on objective measures such as corporate filings and business name registrations).
  • Have a minimum of two full-time journalism staff (or the equivalent).
  • Publish informative content regularly through a digital channel such as a website, newsletter or social platform.
  • Not have a content licensing agreement in place with Meta for Facebook News or Video. For the avoidance of doubt, applicants that have other funding arrangements in place with Meta, or that have been provided funding through an affiliation or industry body distributing on behalf of Meta, are eligible provided they also meet the other eligibility criteria. Organisations and individuals who have received funding from the Meta Australian News Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, are eligible to apply.
  • Be able to contribute to a Meta case study and other marketing initiatives with Meta.
  • Applications by media organisations should be made by the journalist/s most directly responsible for the publication/masthead undertaking the project.
  • Parent companies may apply on behalf of one or more organisations, however, they must disclose this clearly in their application.
  • Applicants that have previously received funding from the Meta Australian News Fund will need to share the impact of previous funding received as part of their application.
• Individuals applying for funding must:
  • Be independent journalist(s) working primarily in Australia.
  • Be either Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Organisations that have previously or currently received funding through a content licensing agreement with Meta for Facebook News or Videos will not be eligible to apply for this program.
• Trade and contract publishing titles are not eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria

• Eligible applications will be assessed, and funding recipients will be selected, according to the following Selection Criteria:
  • How the funds will support solutions-focused journalism that is in the public interest;
  • Whether the applicant has provided a clear and compelling description of how funds will be used for the intended purpose;
  • The organisational need and the clarity of the applicant’s budget proposal;
  • The applicant’s prior journalism practice, using measures such as the quality of previous work published, audience engagement metrics achieved through past published work, as provided in their application;
  • Consideration of resources available to the applicant;
  • How project resources, including staffing and technology investment, will achieve project outcomes;
  • The application is for a story or new project that is not already underway and has no other source of external funding.

Application Requirements

• A detailed project brief (maximum 1000 words).
• Spend up to 700 words on the following:
  • Your project, its overall aims, and specific activities.
  • How your story or project meets the requirements of solutions-focused storytelling. You can refer to our online guide, implementing solutions journalism: A guide to putting solutions approaches into practice for reporters and editors before completing this part of your application.
  • What the public interest need or rationale is for your story or project.
  • The target audience your project aims to serve.
• And up to 300 words on the following:
  • The publishing platform/s that the project will be carried on.
  • The distribution channels you will use to let audiences know about your project or story. This can include platforms, mastheads, or media channels on which you plan to publish/ broadcast the project, and can also include any events related to the project.
  • Expected outcomes and how you will measure each outcome.
  • How you plan to use the funds to achieve your expected outcomes.
• The project brief, which will be the basis of decision-making by the judges, should consist of non-confidential information that can be shared publicly by Meta and/or the Walkley Foundation in the event of a grant application succeeding. If the applicant wishes to disclose confidential information to the judges, this must be clearly marked in the project brief. The judges respect the confidentiality of any application.
• A detailed budget of your project using a template supplied by the Foundation in the application form.
• If the requested amount is over $20,000, applicants may wish to assist the judges by submitting audited accounts or a verified business plan signed off by an appropriately qualified referee.
• As part of their application, all applicants will also be required to provide:
  • A registered Australian Business Number if the applicant is applying as a business.
  • Any other requirements as indicated on the application form.
• For organisation applications only:
  • Their most recent audited financial statement.
  • The name of a parent organisation, if applicable.
  • Proof of consistent publishing over the previous 12 months.
• For individual journalist applicants only:
  • Examples of at least two articles, programs or podcasts published in the past 12 months.
  • In the case of individual journalists planning to publish on an existing platform: a reference from an editor or publisher that includes a statement of intent to publish or broadcast the finished project, and a description of the applicant’s suitability for funding and ability to deliver the proposed work.
  • In the case of a self-produced content-maker (e.g. podcaster, YouTuber, TikToker etc): an appropriate letter of endorsement from an industry professional vouching for the applicant’s skills to deliver the proposed project.
• All applications must:
  • Be in the English language. Any submissions as part of the application in languages other than English must be submitted with an English translation.
  • Not discriminate based on race, gender, faith, national origin, sexual orientation or disability in accordance with current Australian legislation.
  • Not include propaganda.
  • Not be editorially directed by any government or government agency.
  • Disclose if they have previously received funding from the Facebook/Meta Australian News Fund.

For more information, visit The Walkley Foundation.