The Press Council of South Africa invites eligible community media publishers to apply for funded membership, supported by an MDDA grant, to promote ethical journalism and public accountability across the sector.
This call follows constructive engagements between the Press Council, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), the African Chamber of Media (ACM), and the Black Media Owners Association (BMOA) to expand access to media oversight and governance.
MDDA-funded membership for community publishers
This funding arrangement offers qualifying publishers a practical route into the Press Council system while preserving members’ independence and accountability. Through the MDDA grant, qualifying community media publishers will gain Press Council membership, removing a key cost barrier to South Africa’s independent media co-regulatory system.
The initiative covers
● Annual Press Council membership fees for the duration of the grant;
● Access to Press Council research initiatives and resources; and
● Training on the Press Code of Ethics and Conduct, as well as capacity-building benefits available to
members.
The initiative aims to help community publishers strengthen credibility, accountability, and public trust by providing access to Press Council protections, resources, training, and professional development opportunities.
Who can apply
Community media publishers that produce news and journalistic content for their communities are eligible to apply. Applicants should demonstrate active, consistent publishing through recent editions, links to the website and news pages, publication schedules, or other evidence of journalistic output.
How to apply
Interested community media publishers should complete the Press Council membership application form available on the Press Council website. Applicants should indicate on the form that they are applying under the MDDA-funded community media membership initiative and provide evidence of active publishing.
Eligible community media publishers are encouraged to apply for this funded membership opportunity to build public trust through ethical and accountable journalism.
To download the membership form, visit https://presscouncilsa.org.za/wpcontent/uploads/2026/08/2026-Revised-Membership-Application-FormCopy.pdf?utm_source=copilot.com .
