EDITORIAL: Democracy needs strong and local news sources
There has never been a more important time for action to protect local news providers and ensure they are compensated for the work they do.
Australians cherish their democratic system of government.
A fundamental part of protecting our democracy is ensuring citizens can have open and well-informed exchanges of views about the topics that shape their lives.
Australian journalists and media organisations have long provided the news and views people seek about their towns, regions or cities.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Over time a strong bond has been forged between news organisations and their communities. And Australians knew they could trust those sources.
The rise of the internet disrupted that long-standing relationship.
Social media pours out wildly inaccurate, damaging misinformation seemingly without any care or acceptance of responsibility.
The resulting lack of trust has been turbocharged by AI which can leave social media consumers wondering what is real and what is fake.
And big social media sites and search engines have been able to plunder content produced by journalists in Australia without paying for it.
So there has never been a more important time for action to restore fairness and balance by protecting local news providers and ensuring they are compensated for the work they do.
Google, to its credit, has up until now understood its role and responsibility. It has worked productively with The Nightly to help deliver the technological transformation media needs in the modern age.
But that is not the case across whole of the tech sector.
The Albanese Government has shown it is alert to the growing challenges. It introduced the world-leading social media ban for anyone under 16.
And on Tuesday the Government released draft legislation to establish its proposed news bargaining incentive.
Under the proposal Meta, Google and TikTok would have to pay Australian news organisations for their content, or pay even more to the Government under a new version of laws aimed at making sure tech giants pay their fair share.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the incentive to update the previous regime that has fallen apart after Meta walked away from striking fresh deals with media companies.
Under the new system the tech companies would have to pay the Government 2.25 per cent of their Australian revenue, unless they strike deals with media companies.
The Government would distribute this revenue to media organisations based on how many journalists they employed.
The nation’s major media companies, including Southern Cross Media Group, the owner of The Nightly, issued a joint statement warning that the vibrancy of Australian democracy was under threat.
“If digital platforms fail to pay for the use of the news content from which they profit then journalism becomes unsustainable. It is also in the public interest that reliable, professionally created news and information remains accessible and visible on the digital platforms used by millions of Australians,” the statement said.
We urge all digital platforms to come to the table to help secure the future of Australian journalism and trusted news sources which play a vital role in safeguarding our way of life and democratic system.
