Mainstream media is proving it doesn’t deserve the Meta money
The media bargaining code was flawed from the start. Meta has quit the agreement as a result. The hysterical, hyperbolic outrage coming from big media now proves they are right to do so. Will Hayward, CEO of Private Media, explains.
The bargaining code had some good intentions. It has been clear for a while that the free market alone won’t support public interest journalism. If you think holding power to account matters, and one of the best ways to do so is having journalists dig into the affairs of companies, politicians and the rich and powerful, you should be concerned.
As noted in the original ACCC report from 2019, between 2008 and 2018, over 100 local and regional newspapers closed. Between 2006 and 2016, there was a 9% reduction in working journalists in Australia.
And the trends don’t appear to be getting any better. Look only over at our cousins in the states. Jeff Bezos, a man who knows a thing or two about how the internet works, bought The Washington Post just over ten years ago. He was clear from the start that whilst he was prepared to invest, he wanted it to be self-sustaining. Last year, it was reported the Post lost $100 million. It subsequently made 240 redundancies.
We’ve seen similar changes in Australia, with every major commercial media company making redundancies in the last year.
News Corp / Int, Ch 7, Nine Inc, et al – they all seem to peddle the same click bait, sensationalism, propaganda, fear mongering, some might say hateful, ultra partisan drival. Meta / Google amplifies their efforts and if anything; these news companies should be paying big tech for the privilege not the other way around!
(Companies who sell fashion, food, holidays and cars have to pay big tech, why do Messrs (The Media Elites) believe they should be paid for content promotion? It is quite audacious really isn’t it?) Is it a blackmail gig? Do as I say otherwise we will smear you for months on end. Are they in the blackmail business and have they always been?
The old classified spinners should have died out a decade ago, the business model is broken and they appear to be an anchor to our progression, especially in Australia, the UK and the US. Cut them off and let them rot – our communities rot as a result of their negative efforts (society impact wise).
I hope Google cuts them off too and they fade away to focus on their subscription TV models that still pump out adverts……..?????