For the first time in the Maldives’ history, the government has opened applications for state financial assistance for registered private media outlets.
The initiative, a key pledge by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, is designed to bolster private media operations and foster financial independence.
The ‘Regulation on Financial Assistance to the Media’ was published on 19 August, and applications will be accepted until 27 September through the online portal mediaapp.one.gov.mv with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts overseeing the process.
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.
To qualify for the grant, media outlets must meet several key criteria:
Registration and Licensing: Be a registered private newspaper or magazine, or a licensed broadcaster.
Longevity: Demonstrate at least three years of continuous operation.
Transparency: Maintain a publicly accessible code of ethics.
Financial Compliance: Be up-to-date with tax and pension scheme payments, and pay staff salaries via bank transfers.
Debt Status: The regulation requires that any proven debts held by the outlet or its management are actively being serviced.
Application Limits: Media organisations operating multiple outlets (e.g., both print and broadcast) may apply for only one outlet of each type.
The initiative aims to help private media outlets produce productive news content and reports, strengthening the journalism sector and offering stable, reliable employment. By supporting local media, the government hopes to reduce the industry's dependence on foreign sources and promote responsible AI use by Maldivian agencies, aligning with broader global efforts to build AI governance and literacy.