In a bid to bridge the digital divide for community media and vernacular-language publishers across the country, the Google News Initiative (GNI) has introduced a local-language pilot to bring digital and artificial intelligence (AI) training to community newsrooms. This follows Google and YouTube establishing a combined R688 million media support package to fund national, community, and vernacular media in South Africa. The initiative, attended by Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenneth Morolong, was launched at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town on Tuesday.
According to Google, the initiative aligns with the National Development Plan’s (NDP) goals, emphasising inclusive digital transformation to ensure no community is left behind in the digital age. Morolong emphasised the critical role of local media in preserving culture and democracy. “Community media speaks in the languages of our neighbourhoods.
It tells our local stories, celebrates our cultures, and gives voice to our shared hopes. It is not just a part of the community. It is the heartbeat of the community.
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“The aftermath of the devastating impact of Covid-19, coupled with the sustained decline in circulation and advertising revenue, has resulted in several community media houses either closing, amalgamating, or shaving jobs.” Morolong added that the programme is a vital investment in our collective voice and in the future of our democracy. The pilot programme is a response to the systemic hurdles faced by community news publishers operating in underrepresented vernacular languages, such as limited resources and language barriers in mainstream technical training.
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