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Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation established by mining billionaire Twiggy Forrest, has brokered a deal with Google to fund commercial projects for a group of Australian independent publishers.

The value of the deals, to back a range of content and digital projects, hasn’t been revealed but is understood to run into the millions over several years. 

Emma McDonald, senior policy adviser for the Minderoo Foundation’s Frontier Technology initiative, said: “We are delighted Google recognises the value these publishers deliver to their communities. 

“This deal has been negotiated in good faith over the past six months, culminating in a landmark agreement for independent journalism.

“These publishers are working hard to produce important public interest journalism, including in rural and outer urban areas, and with multicultural and LGBTQI+ communities. Without them, the news they publish would often not be reported, and the Australian public would lose an important service.”

Shilpa Jhunjhunwala, Google’s head of ANZ news partnerships, said: “We are pleased to have worked with the Minderoo foundation to identify a broad set of solutions for a diverse group of publishers, and I’d like to thank Emma and The Minderoo Foundation for their collaboration.

“These agreements will mean we have reached more than 60 individual commercial partnerships for News Showcase, representing more than 180 individual Australian media outlets.

“These offerings cover a range of content and digital transformation initiatives, tailored to the publication.”

Participating publications:

• Australian Jewish News
• Hills to Hawkesbury Community News
• Naracoorte Community News
• Star Observer
• Q News
• Greek Herald
• Neos Kosmos
• Perth is OK
• City Hub
• Australian Rural and Regional News
• Australian Chinese Daily
• Il Globo
• Out in Perth
• Indian Link
• Yanchep News
• The Music
• Arts Hub
• Time Out
• Australian Property Journal
• Cosmos Magazine
• Primer Magazine
• Probono Australia
• Acquis Data
• Renew Economy

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