Pacific journalism could be worse off with media bill, ACT warns

There are fears making tech industries pay for news content will have negative effects on Pacific media.

The Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill was announced yesterday by media minister Paul Goldsmith, which would require social media platforms to negotiate with media outlets to pay for content.

Act party leader David Seymour warns it could cause social media platforms to withdraw their news sharing settings as they did in Canada.

“These internet companies can easily just say, look, we don't want to do business or we don't want to show news, we're not going to get involved in New Zealand anymore.

“That means that startup media, [who might be] Pacific, who actually depend on Google and Facebook and Instagram for people to find them, might actually discover that it's even harder to reach their audiences than it was before.”

In Australia, Meta has indicated it could ban links to news on Facebook and Instagram if they are made to pay licensing fees.

In yesterday’s announcement, media minister Paul Goldsmith said New Zealand’s bill differs because it has a “ministerial designation framework”.

“This will enable the Minister to decide which digital platforms are captured by the bill, allowing the Government to manage unintended consequences.

“We’ll also ensure an appropriate independent regulator is appointed as the Bill’s Authority.”

Meanwhile, the ACT party has played the ‘agree to disagree’ card as per their Coalition agreement, and will not be supporting the bill through Parliament.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Seymour said the bill doesn’t address reasons why audiences and advertising are moving away from mainstream media.

“Have we really got to the core of why media is in trouble? I would say it's because people don't trust the journalism they're getting.

“So if we decide, even if it works, to prop up a product that people don't want, what you're doing is you're delaying the change and the innovation that's required in order that we get a better outcome for the audience.”

A new era for media

The announcement comes on the final week of Newshub bulletins. It follows a raft of television programme axings this year, including Fair Go, Sunday, and midday and late-night news bulletins.

Goldsmith said the bill is part of the government’s plan to support New Zealand’s media and content production sectors, while it develops a long-term reform programme.

“Much of the legislation underpinning our media landscape is outdated and stifling innovation.”

Focussing on longevity, Seymour said media companies should aim to be largely self-funded so there is no question of objectivity and no need to meet funding criteria.

“So long as you require money from the government, people are always going to ask, are you working for the viewer, or are you working for the government?

“In the long term, if you want to have a media company, you've got to actually be a media company that's paid by your viewers, or at least advertisers that sell to your viewers, rather than the government.”

Watch the full interview with ACT party leader David Seymour on Pacific Mornings: