Six finalists stand chance to each win R500 000 in SAMIP Innovation Challenge

Newly launched South Africa Media Innovation Program has opened a call for applications for its SAMIP Innovation Challenge, in which up to six finalists will each win a cash prize of up to R500 000.

The Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) with support from Open Society Foundation of South Africa and philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network on Tuesday (29 August) launched the South Africa Media Innovation Program (SAMIP).

The programme, which is part of a three-year $4-million partnership, aims to promote innovation in the media industry by funding the development of new and sustainable business models with diverse revenue streams, promoting new approaches to news and encouraging the development of more diverse media.

SAMIP Innovation Challenge winners will get up to R500 000, those interested in applying have until 31 October

The challenge is open to South African ventures, non-profits and independent media companies with innovative concepts, products and services around six focus areas.

Participants will be chosen from the following focus areas:

Digital native products: New approaches to collecting news and information and to reporting storytelling and distribution that embrace the possibilities of technology

Reaching communities: Innovative approaches to reach and empower people outside of major urban areas and those generally underserved by existing media

Engaging people in official languages that are underserved: Attempts to engage and distribute content to communities in vernacular languages that are underserved

Technology innovation for distribution: New media technology for local news that can find ways to distribute all forms of media in a cost effective and sustainable way

Transition to digital: Finding and implementing solutions products or processes that assist legacy media to transform their business

New revenue opportunities: Innovative solutions to revenue challenges that media companies face how can we open up new revenue stream to make media organisations more sustainable and independent

Up to six finalists will each win a cash prize of up to R500 000, entry to SAMIP and benefit from capacity building in the form of advice, mentorship and training on financial viability and audience reach.

The application window for the challenge closes the end of next month (31 October) and winners will be announced at the end of November.

Learn more about the challenge here