MDDA decides on more grants for media

The MDDA awarded its first two grants in January and May 2004 when 20 different projects were provided with support. During this latest round of decisions support for a further 15 projects has been approved - five community radio projects, four community print projects and six small commercial publications.

The Board of the MDDA further resolved to provide bursaries for six community radio projects to attend a Rhodes University course on broadcasting management. The MDDA has also decided to host workshops for community and small commercial media projects on strategies for resource mobilization. These workshops are aimed at assisting the MDDA fulfill its mission to increase sustainability of media projects.

The MDDA, together with AMASA and AMF will further be hosting two more advertising and marketing workshops in Durban and Cape Town in October 2004. A previous such workshop was held in Johannesburg in July 2004.
Background

The MDDA is established through legislation as a partnership between government and the big media organisations to create an enabling environment for media development and diversity in South Africa, through providing financial and other support to community and small commercial media projects.

The following projects have been awarded grants in the latest round of decision making. Final discussions clarifying the terms of the agreement between the beneficiary and the MDDA are in process:

1. Seipone Publishers cc - awarded grant for research. Seipone is a tabloid size newspaper based in the Limpopo province that publishes in Northern Sotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda.
2. Bravo (West Express) Media which publishes a community newspaper called West Xpress in Cape Town.
3. Tembisa News - granted funding for purchase of equipment.
4. Funda Newspaper - awarded funding for skills/organizational audit.
5. Siyaya News - grant awarded for mentoring, purchase of equipment.
6. Isibani News - granted funding for mentoring and purchase of equipment.
7. Mohodi Community Radio - awarded grant for mentoring.
8. Maputaland Community Radio - support for development of outside broadcasting unit and running costs.
9. Labour Bulletin - Labour Bulletin is a national journal focusing on labour issues which have been publishing for close to 20 years.
10. We are Capable - We are Capable is a national magazine focusing on disability issues produced by and for people with disabilities.
11. Khululekani - This is a media initiative wanting to establish a multi media community project in the Eastern Cape .
12. Mosupatsela Community Radio - the MDDA will provide support for management and governance training for the station which is situated in Botshabelo close to Bloemfontein in the Free State.
13. Eastern Cape Community radio stations - the MDDA will provide capacity building support for community radio stations in the Eastern Cape.
14. Indonsakusa Community Radio (ICORA) - Icora is situated in Eshowe in Kwa Zulu Natal. The MDDA will provide support for equipment and for limited running costs for one year.

The MDDA is focusing on assisting projects with expertise and skills in order to strengthen media initiatives and assist in developing a vibrant and diverse media sector in South Africa. The MDDA has embarked on an on-going process of developing a database of potential mentors who can assist media projects around the country with a range of support - including capacity building, management skills and development of business plans and strategies for sustainability.