Google and YouTube have agreed to a Google R688m media support package for South African news outlets after a landmark competition inquiry into digital platforms. The money will flow over five years to national, community, and vernacular newsrooms. It will do so through a mix of content deals, grants, and training.
Why Google is Paying R688m
Regulators found that global tech platforms dominate digital advertising in South Africa. They sit between local publishers and their audiences. Search, social, and video platforms use local reporting to attract users. Meanwhile, newsrooms carry the cost of journalism and receive a shrinking share of revenue.
The Google R688m media support package forms part of remedies to rebalance that relationship. It treats funding as a form of revenue share for news that surfaces on Google and YouTube. The deal also pushes the company to adjust how its products highlight local sources, especially in news and search results.
How the Package Will Work
Part of the Google R688m media support will pay publishers for content that appears in Google News and related surfaces. Another portion will fund innovation projects that use artificial intelligence and new tools to improve reporting, distribution and audience engagement.
A dedicated slice of the package targets small, community and vernacular outlets. It will help them upgrade websites, improve analytics and strengthen digital skills so they can compete more effectively online. Training programmes will support reporters, editors and management teams with product, data and revenue skills.
What it Means for South African Newsrooms
The package offers a lifeline to an industry under pressure from load-shedding, rising costs, and long-term declines in print and digital advertising. It gives newsrooms more space to experiment with new formats and invest in investigative work. Additionally, it helps them reach younger audiences where they already are.
However, editors and media owners still need sustainable business models that do not rely on a single tech company. The Google R688m media support deal buys time for South African news to adapt to the platform era. However, the future of local journalism will depend on how well publishers use this window to rebuild.
