Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code prompted digital platforms to reach commercial agreements to support the production of news. But as the first cycle of agreements concluded and Meta threatened to withdraw news from Facebook in Australia, there was a need to explore new mechanisms to support the production of news. This report examines two alternative approaches: measures to fund financial sustainability of news through industry levies or similar measures, and provisions to ensure continued presence and accessibility for news content or services such as “must-carry”, “must-be-discoverable” or “must not deprioritise” provisions. The report sets out a series of elements that could be considered as part of a package of reforms embracing both these elements to support media sustainability.
About the author
Julie Eisenberg is an independent consultant who has worked in senior roles in broadcasting and public policy and as a lawyer for news media and currently provides policy advice to the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.
This report has been produced by the UTS Centre for Media Transition with support from the Australian chapter of the International Institute of Communications.