Background
The
Big Tech and Journalism – Building a Sustainable Future for the Global South conference was held from 13-14 July 2023 at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg. Hosted by the GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank, the conference brought together over 70 journalists, news publishers, media organisations, scholars, activists, lawyers, and economists from 24 countries to discuss solutions to the crisis of the sustainability of journalism and its intersection with the role of major tech platforms.
The conference aimed to share lessons learned and identify commonalities within and across regions with regard to media sustainability initiatives via legislation and competition authorities. Robust discussions were held on the experiences of countries which have already or are considering implementing such initiatives to sustain journalism, as well as the challenges of doing so in other countries with large media industries but severe sustainability challenges. The conference featured panel discussions focusing on South Africa, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa, as well as a series of keynotes by distinguished speakers.
Video recordings of the conference can be viewed
here.
The conference culminated in the adoption of ‘Big Tech and Journalism: Principles for Fair Compensation’ (the Principles). The Principles are intended to be universal, serving as a framework for any country seeking to address media sustainability through competition or regulatory approaches, while enabling adaptation to the unique context. It is hoped that the Principles will represent an important step forward in addressing news media sustainability in the tumultuous era of Big Tech.
This site includes downloads of the full Conference Report as well English, French, Spanish and Portuguese translations of the Principles. Additional language versions of the Principles and further endorsements will be added in due course. Here are the Principles:
Big Tech and Journalism: Principles for Fair Compensation
Preamble
These principles are intended to help in the design, implementation and evaluation of public policy mechanisms that oblige digital platforms and news publishers to engage with each other to develop fair economic terms.
The principles recognise freedom of expression as a foundational human right underpinning democracy and support public interest journalism as a public good that should be available to all. Any mechanisms pertaining to the principles must therefore be founded on the same commitment.
For the purposes of these principles, ‘platforms’ mean social media, chat, search engines, generative Artificial Intelligence models and applications, and other such intermediaries. By ‘publishers’ we mean providers of original print, digital, or broadcast news using any combination of text, audio and visual media.
Policymakers in different jurisdictions will use different policies to achieve similar aims, so we refer to these simply as ‘mechanisms’ throughout. Rather than set detailed expectations for these different mechanisms, we propose overarching principles that should apply in a wide range of contexts, including between platforms and publishers
1. Public interest
Mechanisms should support and invest in public interest journalism, by which we mean news and information produced to professional journalistic standards which informs the public about matters that are relevant to their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Mechanisms may also have the effect of supporting other forms of journalism, but – other things being equal – they should prioritise the support of public interest journalism.
2. Plurality
Mechanisms should support plurality in the platform and publishing markets. In particular, mechanisms should have a net positive impact on the plurality of publishers in a market. They should not create a bias in favour of incumbent publishers or platforms but should serve to mitigate any incumbency bias so that the public can – in the medium to long term – benefit from a greater range of platforms and publishers. Very small, medium and start-up publishers must be able to benefit.
3. Diversity
Mechanisms should support diversity in the news publishing market and should have a net positive impact on the range of content, voices and languages represented in the news market, including the voices of historically under-represented and marginalised groups. They should not create a bias in favour of historically dominant voices.
4. Sustainability
Mechanisms should support sustainability in the news publishing market, for individual publishers and the sector as a whole, by ensuring they receive fair compensation for the use of their intellectual property and content. Mechanisms should adapt to evolving market conditions and enhance the likelihood that publishers can build diverse revenue streams.
5. Fairness
Mechanisms should ensure that terms of engagement between platforms and publishers are consistent across a market, and do not allow individual platforms or publishers to strike preferential arrangements. This does not mean that all platforms should give all publishers the same amount of money. But it does mean that the basis for payments and usage deals should be the same for all publishers in that market, and determined using objectively verifiable criteria. Platforms should not be able to favour certain publishers simply because those publishers have greater political influence or larger market capitalisation, for example. It also means that all deals between platforms and publishers should be agreed upon in a similarly timely manner and that neither party should be able to use their comparative bargaining power to drag out negotiations.
6. Collectivity
Small and medium-sized publishers should be allowed to coordinate their efforts, which may include collective bargaining with platforms.
7. Transparency
The highest possible degree of transparency should be adopted for both the process by which policy interventions are designed and implemented as well as the outcomes obtained. Both platforms and publishers should adopt the highest possible degree of transparency so that all parties can judge the fairness of any deal and so that third parties can assess and evaluate the impact of the mechanism as a whole. For example, mechanisms may require platforms and publishers to share data about the size and behaviour of their audiences and advertising placements. Considerations may still be given to competition concerns. Where personal or commercially sensitive data is involved, it may be shared only between the parties and with any enforcement body. All information should be shared with the public when suitably aggregated and anonymised.
8. Accountability
Mechanisms should not inhibit the freedom of publishers, through their journalism, to hold platforms accountable for their actions, or the freedom of platforms to criticise publishers. The terms of engagement between them should be openly published to ensure that all parties can be held accountable and to build confidence with the public.
Third-party assessors that are independent of any enforcement body should be able to review these mechanisms and their outcomes. They must have the power to make recommendations to such a body and, where necessary and appropriate, legislatures. They should ensure a meaningful opportunity for public consultation on the performance of the mechanisms.
9. Independence
Mechanisms should be overseen and enforced by bodies that are demonstrably independent of both the platform and publishing industries. Whilst these bodies may, where appropriate, be established and funded by national or regional governments, they must be operationally independent of political influence and sufficiently well-funded to mitigate any risk of undue interference. Enforcement bodies should have clear aims and objectives to allow industry, researchers, civil society, and the public to determine whether or not they are meeting these aims and objectives.
10. Outcomes
Mechanisms should be outcomes-oriented, with the principles of public interest, plurality, diversity, and sustainability of the media at their heart. They should be assessed against these outcomes on a regular basis by independent third parties, who should be in a position to publish an honest and robust critique of the performance of the mechanisms.
Adopted on 14 July 2023
These Principles were adopted by participants at ‘Big Tech and Journalism – Building a Sustainable Future in the Global South,’ a conference held at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 14 July 2023.
The Principles have been endorsed by:
Abdoulaye Haidara Youssouf, Journalist, Niger
Admire Masuku, Lecturer, Print Journalism, Harare Polytechnic School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Zimbabwe
Agnes E. John–Thomasi, Head, West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), Senegal
Dr Agus Sudibyo, Advisory board member, Indonesia Journalist Union (Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia), Indonesia
Alassane Samba Diop, Managing Director of Emedia Invest, Senegal
Alassane Sarr, Director, Groupe Médias du Sud, Senegal
Alexis Johann, Managing Partner, FehrAdvice & Partners AG, Zürich, Switzerland
Alexis Kalambry, CEO, Mali-Tribune Press Group, Mali
Dr Alison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa (RIA), South Africa
Alymana Bathily, Consultant, Media-Communication and Community Radio Studies, Senegal
Amina Niandou, President, Association of African Communication Professionals (APAC-Niger). Niger
André Gouws, lecturer, Department of Languages and Cultural Sciences, Akademia, South Africa
Anton Harber, Director, Campaign for Free Expression, South Africa
Dr Anya Schiffrin, Senior Lecturer of Practice, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, United States of America (U.S)
Bruce Mutsvairo, Professor and UNESCO Chair on Disinformation, Data and Democracy, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Camille Grenier, Operations Director, Forum on Information and Democracy, France
Dr Chamil Wariya, Chairman, Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Dr Charis Papaevangelou, post-doctoral researcher, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cheikh Fall, President, AfricTivistes, Senegal
Churchill Otieno, Executive Director, Eastern Africa Editors Society, and Chairman Africa Media Convention, Kenya
Dr Courtney Radsch, fellow UCLA Institute for Technology, Law and Policy and Director, Center for Journalism and Liberty, U.S
Dimitri Martinis, Principal Consultant, MCM Digital Media, South Africa
Dr Dinesh Balliah, Director, Wits Centre for Journalism, Wits University, South Africa
Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria
Elena Perotti, Executive Director Public Affairs and Media Policy, The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)
Elhadji Ibrahima Thiam, Journalist, Le Soleil, Senegal
Emma McDonald, Executive Director, Impact Missions, Minderoo Foundation, Australia
Fabrice Marrel, Associate Director, Africaine de Conseils et de Communication, Senegal
Dr Francis Mdlongwa, Senior Consultant on media, journalism, media management, and business strategies, South Africa
Faydy Drame, journalist and Project Manager, Ouestaf News, Senegal
Franz Krüger, Associate Professor, NLA Mediehøgskolen, Kristiansand, Norway and associate researcher, Wits Centre of Journalism, South Africa
Guillermo Mastrini, Professor, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes / CONICET, Argentina
Hamadou Tidiane SY, journalist, founder of E-jicom and Ouestaf news, Senegal
Hani Barghouthi, Campaigns Manager, Public Interest News Foundation, United Kingdom
Dr Harry Dugmore, Discipline Lead in Communication, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Izak Minnaar, independent journalism consultant and trainer, South Africa
Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, General Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria
Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director, Public Interest News Foundation, United Kingdom
José María León-Cabrera, CEO, on behalf of GK Ecuador, Ecuador
Joseph E. Stiglitz, University Professor, Columbia University, Nobel Laureate 2001, U.S
Justine Limpitlaw, Honorary Adjunct Professor, LINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kate Skinner, Director, Association of Independent Publishers, South Africa
Kelly Stony Nkute, Journalist, Presenter and Producer, Radio Okapi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Khadija Patel, Journalist in Residence International Fund for Public Interest Media
Kossi Renaud Goncalves, Program Director, Radio Mokpokpo, Togo
Kuassi Hounza, Managing Director, Joliba TV News, Mali
Lawrence Gibbons, Publisher, Star Observer and City Hub, Co-Chair of Public Interest Publishers Alliance (PIPA), Australia
Mambuya Obul’Okwess Adelar, Journalist and Manager, Faculty Institution of Information and Communication Sciences (IFASIC), DR Congo
Maria Saras-Voutsinas, Executive Director , National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
Michael Karanicolas, Executive Director, UCLA Institute for Technology, Law and Policy, U.S
Michael Markovitz, Head: GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank, Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), South Africa
Momar Dieng, freelance journalist, Impact.sn, Senegal
Nancy Booker, Associate Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Media and Communications, Aga Khan University, Kenya
Natalia Viana, Executive Director: Agência Pública, and Havard Nieman Fellow 2022, Brazil
Ndeye Magatte Kebe, Publishing Director, www.lesafricaines.net and www.hydrodiplomacy.com, Senegal
Nelson Yap, Publisher of Australian Property Journal, Co-Chair of the Public Interest Publishers Alliance, Australia
Nicolas Akouété Agbossou GBOSSOU, Administrator and Editor-in-Chief of Radio Lumière, Togo
Pamella Makotsi Sittoni, Group Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya
Paul Deegan, President and Chief Executive Officer, News Media Canada
Paul-Joel Kamtchang, Founder-Executive Secretary, ADISI-Cameroun, Cameroon
Paul R Hills, Independent Media Researcher and Analyst, Switzerland
Professor Robert G. Picard, FRSA, Senior Research Fellow, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford Fellow, Information Society Project, Yale Law School
Ruth Kronenburg, Executive Director, Free Press Unlimited, The Netherlands
Phathiswa Magopeni, Board Director, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), South Africa
Rosalia Omungo, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Editors' Guild, Kenya
Sasmito, President, Alliance of Independent Journalists, Indonesia
Sekoetlane Phamodi, Director, New Economy Campaigns Hub, South Africa
Seydou Traore, Founder, Keniebamedia, Mali
Dr Selay Marius Kouassi, Independent Journalist, Consultant and Trainer, Founder and Executive Director IRAF (Information Resilience Africa), Côte d’Ivoire
Sibusiso Ngalwa, Chairperson, South African National Editors Forum (SANEF), South Africa
Tania L. Montalvo, Independent Journalist, Mexico
Taylor Owen, Beaverbrook Chair in Media, Ethics and Communications, The Director of The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, and Associate Professor in the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University, Canada
Dr Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, Lecturer, Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana and Research Associate, School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University, South Africa.
Uyanda Siyotula, National Coordinator, SOS: Support Public Broadcasting Coalition, South Africa
Wahyu Dhyatmika, Secretary General, Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI), Indonesia
Vibodh Parthasarathi, Associate Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India (in personal capacity)
William Bird, Director, Media Monitoring Africa, South Africa
Zoé Titus, Director, Namibia Media Trust (NMT), Namibia
Zubeidah Kananu, President, Kenya Editors' Guild, Kenya
Organisations
BBC Media Action, United Kingdom
Center for Media, Technology and Democracy, Canada
Digital Journalism Association (Ajor), Brazil
Campaign for Free Expression, South Africa
Eastern Africa Editors Society
Foro de Periodismo Argentino (FOPEA), Argentina
Free Press Unlimited, The Netherlands;
Kenya Editors' Guild, Kenya
Media Monitoring Africa, South Africa
Namibia Media Trust, Namibia
News Media Canada
Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria
Open Markets Institute, U.S
Ouestaf News, West African online news platform, Senegal
Publisher Interest Publishers Alliance (PIPA), Australia
Public Interest News Foundation, (PINF), United Kingdom
SOS:Support Public Broadcasting Coalition, South Africa
South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), South Africa
Union of Information and Communication Professionals of Senegal (SYNPICS), Senegal
Vladimir Herzog Institute, Brazil
Wits Centre for Journalism, South Africa
The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)
Endorsements as at
04 September 2023. If you or your organisation wish to endorse these principles, please send your name, designation and organisation to
markovitzm@gibs.co.za.
