As part of these funds, Facebook will work with the International Center for Journalists, a non-profit organisation with a history of working with publishers across the world.

ICFJ will provide $140 000 USD in these grants to South African publishers, as well as a $250 000 USD video training programme for 10 000 journalists across the continent covering COVID-19 through video reporting.

"The news industry is working under extraordinary conditions to keep people informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people turn to local journalists for critical information on how to keep their friends, families and communities safe, these journalists are affected especially in the current economic crisis," says Jocelyne Muhutu Remy, strategic media partnerships manager of Facebook Africa.

"We're working with our partners and the industry to understand their needs, which includes support to help them continue creative, innovative and impactful storytelling," adds Muhutu.
 
"Sub-Saharan Africa's newsrooms will need to play a key role in informing the public in a highly vulnerable region," says Johanna Carrillo, ICFJ's vice president of programmes.

"With this new grant from the Facebook Journalism Project, we can build on our work together helping newsrooms and publishers in the region at this difficult time," adds Carrillo.

This investment builds upon Facebook's ongoing COVID-19 focused work in South Africa and across the continent. The platform has indicated that it is focused on helping provide accurate information to various communities. 

Its work has included launching the Coronavirus Information Center on Facebook, as well as COVID-19 Connect, a WhatsApp-based health helpline developed in partnership with the minister of health and local Facebook partner, Praekelt. An additional $100 000 USD from Facebook will be invested in Kenya this year, for a Video Storytelling Fellowship. 

FJP's commitment to newsrooms in South Africa follows Facebook's $100-million USD investment to support the news industry during the coronavirus crisis, as well as $2-million in grants for United States and Canadian local news, $1-million USD in grants for fact-checking organisations and a $1-million USD donation to the International Fact-Checking Network.

Previously, FJP committed $300-million USD to serving journalists around the world through diverse and inclusive news programmes and partnerships. Applications open Tuesday, 5 May 2020.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com.