‘I will seek to restart that commercial relationship’: News publishers welcome Albo’s push back on social media giants
A number of media industry heads have spoken out after the Albanese Government unveiled plans on Thursday to force social media giants to pay media publishers for news content or face financial penalties.
After Meta decided to stop paying Australian media publishers earlier this year, threatening to simply remove news from its platforms rather than pay for it, the government has now said platforms must come to the table or face fines.
The news has been widely praised by industry stakeholders, including News Corp Australasia executive chairman, Michael Miller.
“This will provide a foundation for rebuilding the media industry after the loss of an estimated 1,000 jobs this year, and ensuring Australian news media businesses will continue to deliver inquiring and professional journalism, which has never been more important to cohesive, democratic societies,” Miller said in a statement given to Mumbrella.
“Following today’s announcement I will be contacting Meta immediately to seek to restart the commercial relationship with News Corp Australia that it walked away from earlier this year. I will also be making contact with TikTok with the intention of reaching a commercial agreement with them as well.
“I believe news publishers and the tech platforms should have relationships that benefit both parties on commercial and broader terms, and the Government has set a clear timetable to conclude discussions. The package of recent Australian initiatives aimed at social media which now include restricting under 16s from accessing social media, moves to take on online scams and a new ex-ante competition framework, shows the Government is prepared to be a leader in setting the rules and expectations for how big tech should operate in our society.”
Nine’s acting CEO, Matt Stanton, added: “Today is a positive step forward for Australians seeking ongoing access to news sources that can be trusted and Nine welcomes the action taken by the Government to strengthen the News Media Bargaining Code framework.
“We hope today’s announcement will help ensure access to reliable news sources and protect the sustainability of Australian news media. We have been working closely with the Government on this issue in recent months and look forward to working collaboratively on the implementation to ensure the right regulatory frameworks are achieved. We remain open to direct engagement with international tech companies to accelerate the practical implementation of the Government’s proposed approach.”
Likewise, Seven West Media managing director and CEO, Jeff Howard, applauded the News Bargaining Initiative.
“We welcome a strengthening of the News Media Bargaining Code and the Government’s commitment to ensuring Australian media businesses are fairly remunerated for the news we produce, so that Australians continue to receive reliable and trusted Australian news,” he said.
“An enhanced News Bargaining Incentive means trusted and reliable news will continue to appear on these platforms, combatting the growing problem of misinformation and disinformation.”
Man of Many co-founder, Scott Purcell, argued that while the announce is a win for journalism, there are concerns for smaller indie publishers like the men’s lifestyle website.
Purcell pointed to three factors – impact on small publishers, uncertainty in distribution criteria and platform retaliation – as areas that need to be looked at by government.
“We believe that these concerns, if not addressed, could inadvertently widen the gap between major media players and independent publishers, undermining the diversity and sustainability of Australia’s media ecosystem,” Purcell said in a statement.
Man of Many is advocating for a more inclusive approach, including:
- Expanding funding eligibility to include all ACMA-registered news organisations.
- Clear, transparent criteria for fund allocation to ensure smaller publishers receive equitable support.
- Strong safeguards to prevent platforms from retaliating by removing news content.
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Neil Griffiths is the Managing Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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Anthony Albanese
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News Bargaining Code
News Bargaining Initiative
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News Corp Australia
Seven West Media
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