Meta’s Decision to Ax Facebook News Draws Criticism from British Newspaper Groups
Introduction
Meta’s recent decision to scrap its Facebook News service and reduce funding for local journalism has sparked uproar among British newspaper groups. In a letter addressed to Meta’s global affairs president Nick Clegg, the social media giant was strongly condemned for jeopardizing democracy and society by undermining trustworthy news sources.
The News Media Association, representing the interests of the £4 billion media industry, expressed deep concern over the financial consequences for newspapers and the wider implications for democracy and society. The letter was also sent to government ministers Lucy Frazer, Minister of Culture, and Michelle Donelan, Minister of Technology.
The Threat to Democracy
With its decision to abandon news content on Facebook, Meta has been accused of presenting an urgent threat to democracy by suppressing reliable news. The News Media Association emphasized the significance of authentic, editorially vetted news in fostering an informed society and safeguarding the democratic process.
By curtailing access to trustworthy news on its platform, Meta poses challenges for both the media industry, which heavily relies on the dissemination of news, and users who have grown accustomed to Facebook as a source of reliable information. The timing of this decision, just ahead of the UK general election, compounds these concerns.
Financial Implications for Newspapers
The detrimental impact of Meta’s decision is not limited to democracy and society alone – the move also carries significant financial ramifications for newspapers. With Meta’s Facebook News service discarded, newspapers face a potential decline in readership and ad revenue, exacerbating the already challenging landscape for traditional media.
Given that the News tab constitutes less than 3% of the content seen on Facebook, the company’s decision to prioritize other products and services is likely to further marginalize news entities. The News Media Association asserts that platforms like Facebook play a pivotal role in news discovery and voter engagement, and the absence of authoritative news sources limits the ability of publishers to attract and monetize traffic.
The Repercussions for Local Journalism
In addition to scrapping Facebook News, Meta also decided against renewing funding for the Community News Project (CNP), a program supporting journalism in underserved communities. Over the past five years, Meta had contributed a substantial $17 million to the CNP.
The News Media Association underlines the importance of Facebook’s influence on news consumption and the role it plays in helping people access local news. By withdrawing this support, Meta hampers the ability of local journalism to flourish, leaving underserved communities without vital news coverage and potentially exacerbating existing disparities in information access.
The Role of Facebook as a News Discovery Route
Facebook remains a prominent source of news for millions of individuals and voters. Despite Meta’s waning interest in news, platforms like Facebook continue to shape people’s news consumption habits and shape the public discourse. Instant Articles, the mobile-friendly format for news articles on the Facebook app, was previously held responsible for steep declines in digital revenue at publishers like Reach.
Meta’s decision to deprioritize authoritative news sources within its News Feed further hamstrings publishers’ ability to attract and monetize traffic. When Meta launched the Community News Project, it acknowledged the essential role Facebook played in news consumption. However, with its current direction, Meta risks exacerbating an already fragile media landscape, potentially limiting access to local and national news for large segments of the population.
Conclusion
Meta’s decision to ax its Facebook News service and reduce funding for local journalism has sent shockwaves through the British newspaper industry. Critics argue that this move threatens democracy by stifling trustworthy news and compromising the public’s access to accurate information.
The financial consequences for newspapers, coupled with the negative impact on local journalism, raise concerns about the long-term viability of news organizations and the potential for information gaps in underserved communities.
As society becomes increasingly reliant on digital platforms for news consumption, it is crucial for robust systems to be in place to promote accurate and trustworthy journalism. The News Media Association calls for dialogue and collaboration with Meta to find ways to support news publishers and ensure the continued distribution of reliable news and information.
Given the influence of Facebook on shaping news consumption habits, it is essential to strike a balance between prioritizing profitable products and services and nurturing a thriving media ecosystem capable of fulfilling its democratic role. The future of journalism and the health of democracy depend on it.
Summary
Meta’s decision to discontinue its Facebook News service and reduce funding for local journalism has sparked criticism from British newspaper groups. The move has significant implications for democracy and society, as well as financial repercussions for newspapers and the potential erosion of local journalism.
The News Media Association, representing the £4 billion media industry, argues that by stifling trustworthy news, Meta jeopardizes informed decision-making and the democratic process. Furthermore, the decision may cause a decline in revenue for newspapers, exacerbating the challenges they already face.
The absence of news content on Facebook may also limit access to quality news for millions of individuals and voters who rely on the platform for information. In addition, Meta’s withdrawal of funding for the Community News Project raises concerns about disparities in information access in underserved communities.
Efforts to support news publishers and prioritize the distribution of reliable news are crucial in maintaining a healthy media ecosystem and safeguarding democracy. Collaboration between Meta and industry stakeholders is necessary to address these concerns and ensure the availability of accurate, trustworthy news for the public.
—————————————————-
| Article | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Artful Impressions | Premiere Etsy Store |
| Sponsored Content | View |
| 90’s Rock Band Review | View |
| Ted Lasso’s MacBook Guide | View |
| Nature’s Secret to More Energy | View |
| Ancient Recipe for Weight Loss | View |
| MacBook Air i3 vs i5 | View |
| You Need a VPN in 2023 – Liberty Shield | View |
Get free media updates
We will send you a myFT Daily collection email with the list of the latest news Average news every morning.
British newspaper groups have attacked Meta’s decision to ax its Facebook News service and cut funding to local journalism in a hard-hitting letter warning of the move’s impact on democracy and society.
In a letter sent to Meta’s global affairs president Nick Clegg, a former British minister, the social media group was warned that its decision posed an “urgent threat to democracy by stifling trustworthy news.”
The letter, sent on Thursday by the News Media Association and seen by the Financial Times, says the move is “financially damaging” for newspapers and “deeply worrying for democracy and society”.
The letter was also sent to government ministers Lucy Frazer, Minister of Culture, and Michelle Donelan, Minister of Technology. Clegg is a former leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and was deputy prime minister in the UK coalition government from 2010 to 2015.
Meta said this month that he would accept news on Facebook – the dedicated tab on Facebook that shows news – in Europe and stop a program to fund local journalism in the UK.
The company said this was part of an “ongoing effort to better align our investments with our products and services that people value most.”
The News tab makes up less than 3% of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed, “so discovering news is a small part of the Facebook experience for the vast majority of people.” He did not comment further when contacted by the FT.
The NMA letter states: “If authentic, editorially vetted news is not available on the platforms where users seek it, society suffers.”
Citing next year’s UK general election, it says: “These deliberate actions pose an urgent threat to democracy by stifling trustworthy news – both financially for the media industry and practically, for audiences accustomed to trusting your platform to the information”.
The NMA represents the interests of the £4 billion media industry. Its members publish more than 900 media titles including The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror, as well as the Manchester Evening News, Sheffield Star and Yorkshire Post. The FT is not a member.
The letter was signed by NMA president Jim Mullen, who is chief executive of Reach, owner of Mirror and Express.
The NMA has requested a meeting with Meta to discuss how it can support news publishers and the distribution of trustworthy news and information.
Meta also decided not to renew funding for the Community News Project, a program that supports journalism in underserved communities. Meta has contributed $17 million to CNP over the past five years.
The NMA said that when Meta launched the CNP, it recognized “the important role that Facebook plays in how people receive their news”. The letter states: “While Meta’s interest in news has waned, the fact remains that platforms like Facebook continue to be key news discovery routes for millions of people and indeed voters.”
Meta has already eliminated Instant Articles, a mobile-friendly format for news articles on the Facebook app, which was blamed for sharp declines in digital revenue at publishers like Reach earlier this year.
The NMA said Meta’s decision to deprioritize authoritative news sources within its News Feed “further damaged publishers’ ability to attract and monetize traffic.”
—————————————————-