Session
Organizer 1: Rafael Evangelista, 🔒cgi.br
Organizer 2: Gabriela Nardy, NIC.br
Organizer 3: Oms Juliana, NIC.br
Speaker 1: Iva Nenadic, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Cristiano Flores, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Juliana Harsianti, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Rafael Evangelista, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Gabriela Nardy, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Oms Juliana, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The round table format favors multistakeholder engagement with presentation of different regional experiences and perspectives related to the issue addressed, and an informal debate on pressing topics, such as platforms business model impact on journalism, and regulatory initiatives on direct compensation. The 90 minutes duration would facilitate the discussion of complex issues characterized by open disputes and multiple perspectives from different sectors and regions, and allow time for the audience participation through questions & answers.
1. What can we learn from regulatory endeavors on the remuneration of journalism by digital platforms across different countries? 2. What are the alternatives to promote journalism sustainability in the digital era?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants and attendees will benefit from the discussion on the complex relationship between Big Techs and journalism, through a multistakeholder perspective, and delve into the issue of journalism remuneration by platforms, which lies at the core of this debate. This discussion will not only pinpoint the main aspects of controversy and disputes around this topic, but promote the exchange of concrete experiences and lessons learned in how different countries have attempted to address this matter, setting the path for good policy practices in the near future.
Description:
The exponential growth of digital platforms transformed the digital advertising ecosystem. Their business models, based on data collection and analysis for the purpose of targeted advertising, has profoundly impacted contemporary journalism. The systematic shift of revenue from journalism to digital platforms reshaped the landscape of media consumption, production, and distribution. These transformations not only alter the circulation of journalistic content but also exacerbate power imbalances, potentially widening the gap between those with access to quality, reliable, and diverse information and those without. This is particularly evident in crises such as those surrounding public health and political-electoral communications. At the core of this concern lies the question of how journalism is compensated by digital platforms, igniting a wave of regulatory proposals across various nations and mobilizing multiple stakeholders. Australia notably passed pioneering legislation addressing this issue. In Canada, the approval of the Online News Act prompted Meta to remove news from their platforms. In Brazil, legislative efforts aimed at regulating digital platforms have stirred controversy. A decree has also been issued in Indonesia, while South Africa is currently conducting a inquiry on digital platforms markets. The session is designed to delve into the successes, challenges, and lessons gained from regulatory endeavors concerning the remuneration of journalism by digital platforms, alongside initiatives aimed at addressing this crisis. Informed by recent regulatory efforts in various countries, this discussion aims to produce a roadmap of good practices, fostering consensus on the matter. These experiences underscore the imperative to strengthen a multistakeholder approach in the debate, addressing the disputes between preserving innovation on the one hand and guaranteeing human rights such as rights to freedom of expression and access to information on the other.
1. Map different stakeholder perspectives, interests and positions on the complex relations between Big Tech and the production, circulation, and remuneration of journalistic content; 2. Foster experience-sharing on regulatory initiatives, policies and regulations in different countries to address the disputes between digital platforms and journalism companies, resulting in a map of good practices; 3. Create an open and interactive document, coordinated by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee - CGI.br, to collect contributions for the ongoing mapping of best practices on policy and regulatory experiences, to be shared with the community.
Hybrid Format: The workshop session will be divided into three parts: the first will consist of speakers exposing their views and policy experiences. The second, a short debate among the different perspectives raised by the speakers. The last one will be devoted to Q&A. To ensure proper interaction between the audience, the session will count with onsite and online moderators. The onsite moderator will be responsible to oversee the interventions and interacting with the speakers, and also care for safeguarding the due balance to meet diversity expectations. The online moderator will take care of the flow of questions within all the online tools involved in the session. He/she will guarantee that the onsite moderator will be aware of questions and comments from the remote audience.
Report
Impact of Digital Platforms on Journalism
The rapid growth of digital platforms has disrupted traditional media business models by centralizing advertising revenues and reshaping how journalistic content is distributed. Nikhil Pahwa, offering an Indian perspective, acknowledged that platforms like Google and Facebook both drive traffic to media outlets and compete with them for advertising dollars. Juliana Harsianti highlighted how smaller media outlets in developing countries, such as Indonesia, leverage platforms to reach wider audiences but struggle with financial sustainability. Iva Nenadic emphasized the immense power digital platforms hold in shaping global information systems, often without adequate accountability or liability.
This shift has resulted in a fragmented media landscape where smaller and alternative outlets face significant disadvantages compared to major publishers, further exacerbating inequality in media representation.
Regulatory Approaches and Compensation Models
The workshop revealed differing views on regulatory solutions for balancing power between platforms and journalism. Australia’s News Bargaining Code was critiqued by Nikhil Pahwa for setting a problematic precedent of mandating payments for links, which he argued undermines the foundational principles of the Internet. Instead, Pahwa advocated for regulations focusing on algorithmic transparency and accountability to ensure fair treatment for all media entities.
Iva Nenadic highlighted the Danish model of collective negotiations, where media organizations unite to negotiate with platforms. This approach could mitigate power imbalances and ensure fair compensation for smaller outlets. She also noted that Europe has leveraged copyright laws to encourage fairer negotiations between platforms and media, though challenges persist in ensuring inclusivity and transparency in these agreements.
A recurring theme was the difficulty in defining "media" and "journalism" in today’s digital ecosystem. The speakers agreed that this ambiguity complicates efforts to regulate platform-media interactions effectively.
Emerging Threats and Opportunities from AI
The rapid rise of generative AI introduced new concerns. AI systems often use journalistic content for training without proper compensation, threatening both the sustainability of journalism and its visibility. Nikhil Pahwa warned that AI summaries risk cannibalizing traffic to news sites, reducing the economic viability of traditional web-based journalism.
Juliana Harsianti pointed to ethical dilemmas in Indonesia, where journalists are experimenting with AI-generated content, raising questions about its impact on journalistic integrity. Meanwhile, Iva Nenadic stressed that while AI presents significant risks, it also underscores the need for robust frameworks to protect journalism and maintain the integrity of information.
Opportunities for AI to support journalism were also noted, such as enhancing content distribution and improving audience engagement. However, ensuring ethical use and fair compensation remains a priority.
Future of Journalism and Media Sustainability
Nikhil Pahwa urged media organizations to focus on innovation and developing self-sustaining business models rather than relying on subsidies or government intervention. He cautioned that government involvement in platform regulation risks undermining media independence, particularly in the Global South, where governments may use regulatory frameworks to control free speech.
Iva Nenadic emphasized the importance of self-reflection within the journalism profession, particularly in addressing declining public trust. She called for a renewed focus on demonstrating journalism’s value to younger audiences through ethical and high-quality reporting.
Juliana Harsianti highlighted the unique challenges faced by small and independent media outlets in developing countries. Many rely on donor funding or grassroots support, underscoring the need for solutions tailored to regional and contextual realities.
Unresolved Issues and Future Directions
The workshop left several critical questions open for further exploration:
- How can AI’s use of journalistic content be regulated without stifling innovation?
- What constitutes fair compensation for platforms’ use of media content, and how can smaller outlets benefit?
- How can media independence be preserved while addressing the role of governments in platform regulation?
- What strategies can journalism adopt to rebuild trust and relevance, especially among younger audiences?
- Proposals for future action included developing collective bargaining strategies, establishing public sector funds financed by platforms, and creating self-regulatory frameworks to address ethical concerns around AI use.