How prepared is your newsroom for the future of digital publishing? For independent news publishers working with limited resources, answering that question can be challenging. A new free assessment aims to make the process easier, helping organisations understand where they stand and decide what to improve next.
The Digital News Transformation Fund (DNTF) has partnered with RNW Media to make the Digital Transformation Assessment (DTA), a service of RNTC, available free of charge to independent news publishers across South Africa. The offer includes the Fund’s 43 grantees.
Designed to help news organisations evaluate their digital progress, the assessment provides a structured way to identify strengths, uncover areas for improvement and determine where limited resources can have the greatest impact.
A Practical Way to Measure Digital Progress
Digital transformation involves more than publishing stories online. News organisations must also consider how they engage audiences, manage editorial processes, generate revenue and protect their digital operations.
The DTA examines several areas of a news organisation’s digital development, including strategy, editorial workflows, audience engagement, operations, monetisation, people and digital security.
The assessment takes approximately 60 minutes to complete. Ideally, two to four team members should work through it together, allowing colleagues to contribute different perspectives on the organisation’s current position.
Once completed, each organisation receives a personalised report outlining its digital standing. The report identifies existing strengths, highlights areas that need attention and helps teams determine their priorities.
It can also support the development of a practical action plan, including capacity-building requirements and a realistic budget.
For independent publishers balancing the demands of daily journalism with the need to modernise their operations, this offers an opportunity to approach digital development with greater clarity.
Supporting Independent Journalism in South Africa
The initiative forms part of the wider work of the Digital News Transformation Fund, a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), administered by Tshikululu Social Investments.
The Fund supports the sustainability, innovation and digital transformation of small and medium local and independent news publishers in South Africa.
Leanne Kunz, Head of the DNTF, says the assessment can help publishers make more informed decisions as the media environment continues to change.
“Independent publishers are working hard to adapt to a changing media environment, often with limited resources. This assessment gives them an opportunity to look at their progress, identify what needs attention and make informed decisions about their next steps.”
By providing a structured overview of their digital capabilities, the assessment aims to help publishers better understand their needs and plan their next moves.
Confidential, Voluntary and Free
For publishers considering the assessment, participation is entirely voluntary and confidential. Completing it does not affect DNTF grants or funding conditions.
Responses are used only to generate the individual organisation’s report. Individual data remains private and is not shared with the Fund or other third parties.
Each report is tailored to the organisation that submits the assessment information, giving participating teams a picture of their own digital progress and areas for development.
Boris van Westering, Digital Transformation Lead at RNW Media, says the process is also intended to encourage collaboration within newsrooms.
“The assessment is designed to encourage practical conversations within newsrooms about digital transformation. It gives teams a clearer picture of where they stand and helps them agree on what matters most.”
This collaborative approach allows teams to reflect on their existing practices and establish shared priorities for the future.
Free Introductory Session for Publishers
To introduce the assessment and explain how it works, RNW Media and RNTC will host a free online introductory session on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 South African Standard Time (SAST).
The session is open to anyone interested in learning more about the assessment and will take place on Microsoft Teams.
Interested participants can join the free introductory session on Microsoft Teams.
Publishers can also explore the Digital Transformation Assessment and access the tool through the official RNTC assessment page.
For further information about the Digital News Transformation Fund, visit dntfund.org.za.
For independent news publishers looking to strengthen their digital operations, the initiative provides a free opportunity to assess current capabilities, bring teams into the conversation and identify practical steps towards a more sustainable digital future.
