Registered private newspapers, magazines, and private broadcasters now have an extended deadline to apply for financial assistance from the state budget.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and the Arts announced that applications will be accepted until the 7 October, providing more time for eligible media outlets to submit their proposals.
Published on 22 August, the "Regulation on Financial Assistance to the Media" outlines the criteria and application process. Interested parties can submit their applications exclusively through the online portal at mediaapp.one.gov.mv.
While the established regulation typically permit financial aid to be distributed in three installments, this year, a presidential decision has been made to disburse the funds in a single payment.
A key prerequisite for receiving this financial assistance is mandatory registration for all media entities. For broadcast media, a valid license is also required. Media organisations that have demonstrated at least three years of continuous service are encouraged to apply. Further eligibility requirements include ensuring public access to the media outlet, maintaining a published code of ethics and conduct, fulfilling tax obligations, making timely payments to the pension scheme, and conducting all staff salary transactions through a bank.
Additionally, any media outlet whose responsible person has outstanding and verified debts must settle these obligations before being considered for the grant. The rules also stipulate that if an entity operates multiple media outlets, including broadcast and print/online formats, they may submit separate proposals for one media outlet of each type.
While the regulation generally stipulates three separate payments, the President has authorised a single, lump-sum payment for this year only. An estimated USD 1.8 million has been allocated from the state budget for this purpose, equivalent to 0.1 percent of the budgeted state revenue for this year.
The funds will be distributed based on a points-based system, with a 60-point minimum threshold required for eligibility.
This initiative marks the first time that the state budget has specifically earmarked financial assistance for private media outlets.
The overarching goals of this programme are to foster financially viable and independent private media operations, encourage the dissemination of productive content and reliable news reporting, and ultimately to elevate journalism into an industry capable of providing responsible and sustainable employment opportunities.