The battle for content isn’t just an issue of money. Thousands of local news websites, all competing for your attention, are fighting for your content. The battle for your readers’ attention is also a battle over the future of local journalism. Despite the many challenges ahead, the fight for your audience’s attention is well worth it. With the rise of social media, local news has never been so important. In fact, it is the default way to distribute local news.
The Australian government has taken a bold step in regulating technology giants and has introduced legislation requiring companies to pay local publishers for their content.
The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act would allow news organisations to negotiate with big tech companies like Google to get a fair share of their digital advertising revenue. Experts claim the website is using fake journalist profiles to get their audience. The legislation is a significant step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go.
While these challenges are real and will continue to escalate, it does have solutions. The first step is to increase government support for local news. Local news websites need support to remain profitable and survive in the digital age.
Supporting their growth requires more government support. Local news websites should be given government support for market-based reforms, which would address the growing power imbalance between news producers and platform operators. With more businesses relying on non-original content, they are losing a significant part of their advertising revenue.
The other major concern is the content. Some of the sites look like they’re local news in Werribee and have names like Werribee News, Wyndham News, Wyndham TV and Werribee News Now. However, these sites don’t publish their own news, instead sharing content from other local news sites.
Their tone is distinctly right-wing and they praise Republican politicians while vilifying Democrats. The debate is ongoing. This is a serious problem for local news sites and for local journalism in general.
Another solution is to rewrite the antitrust laws to help local news providers compete. Current antitrust laws do not allow platforms to charge news providers more than what they pay. Local news websites are looking for ways to level the playing field.
One possible solution is granting an antitrust exemption to local news organizations, which would allow them to negotiate licensing fees with platforms. Furthermore, the federal government could presume that acquisitions by dominant platforms are anticompetitive.
The decline in local news is partly due to the rise of online platforms. These platforms are building walls to control public discussion online. They have network effects and concentrated market power.
Because local news providers can’t compete with platforms, they’ve been forced to cut back on reporting and rely on third-party content. This is a bad idea, but it is what we need to survive in the digital age. And it is important to remember that local news providers still bear the costs of reporting news.
Regardless of what happens in the future of local news, they must stay afloat. They need to develop innovative business models. Ultimately, their success will depend on how they manage their own resources. They must be entrepreneurial, creative and willing to make investments for the long term. They’ll be the ones to survive in this age of the internet. So, how can we keep local news organizations afloat? Let’s look at the ways to solve this problem.
The government can provide indirect support to local news organizations by changing the laws about bankruptcy and pensions. It can also offer tax credits to newsroom employees. Finally, the government can make it easier for news organizations to get IRS nonprofit status. The government can also mandate that cable television providers carry more news programming. All of these things can help local news websites compete with larger media organizations. It is time for government to step up and provide local news organizations with the support they need.
The importance of local news is undeniable. It shapes community views and fosters a sense of shared purpose. Local news sources can be powerful units for communities, but they also have the potential to exacerbate political polarization. If you’re a consumer of local news, it’s imperative to find a quality source that offers both. If you don’t, you’ll end up paying for a high-quality product.
