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Facebook to test breaking news labels with Australian media companies

Facebook is testing a news feature which will allow some of Australia’s biggest media companies to add breaking news labels to their feeds.

The feature has already been tested in the US with local and national publishers, but has now expanded to more than 50 publishers across North America, Latin America, Europe and Australia.

Facebook’s new breaking news labels are being tested by News Corp, Fairfax, Nine, Seven and ABC

In Australia, Facebook is testing this feature with ABC, Seven, Nine, Fairfax and News Corp.

The broadcasters and publishers will be able to label their Instant Articles, mobile and web links and Facebook Live posts as breaking news. Posts will appear in the news feed and will include a menu in the top right hand corner for readers, who can give feedback if they don’t believe a story warrants a breaking news label.

The breaking news indicator can be used for up to six hours, once a day. Publishers will also receive another five indicators per month.

Will Easton, Facebook’s managing director and vice-president, Australia and New Zealand, said he was excited to have Australian publishers involved in the pilot.

“Facebook’s mission is to connect people. One of the ways people connect is by sharing news with friends and family, particularly timely, important news. This pilot – involving the ABC, Seven, Nine, Fairfax and News Corp – will make those breaking news stories stand out more in News Feed.

“If the test is successful, we’ll release the feature more widely. News is important to Facebook and this is the first of several initiatives in 2018 that we hope will help bolster the local news ecosystem.”

The latest announcement from Facebook comes more than two months after it revealed it would be downgrading posts from media outlets and brands in favour of video and content from friends and family.

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