Meta’s Bluff on Journalism Preservation Act is called out by California Assembly.
In recent years, the issue of fake news and the decline of traditional journalism has become a growing concern for many people. In response to this, some lawmakers have proposed legislation aimed at preserving the integrity of journalism and ensuring that the public has access to accurate and reliable news sources. One such proposal is the Journalism Preservation Act, which has been introduced in several states, including California.
The Journalism Preservation Act is a bill that seeks to provide financial support to struggling news organizations and to promote the development of new, innovative models for journalism. The bill would create a tax credit for individuals and businesses that donate to nonprofit news organizations, and it would establish a fund to support the creation of new digital news outlets. The goal of the bill is to ensure that the public has access to high-quality, independent journalism, even as traditional news organizations struggle to stay afloat in the face of declining revenues and changing media consumption habits.
However, not everyone is convinced that the Journalism Preservation Act is the right solution to the problem of declining journalism. One critic of the bill is California Assemblymember Evan Low, who has called out what he sees as a “bluff” by the bill’s sponsor, Meta. In a statement, Low argued that the bill is little more than a PR stunt by Meta, and that it fails to address the root causes of the decline of journalism.
Low’s criticism of the Journalism Preservation Act centers on the fact that it is sponsored by Meta, a company that has been accused of contributing to the decline of traditional journalism through its dominance of the online advertising market. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been criticized for its role in siphoning off advertising revenue from traditional news organizations, thereby contributing to their financial struggles. Low argues that it is hypocritical for Meta to now propose a bill aimed at preserving journalism, given its role in undermining it in the first place.
Low’s criticism of the bill raises important questions about the role of big tech companies in the decline of traditional journalism. Many experts agree that the rise of online advertising has had a major impact on the financial viability of traditional news organizations, and that companies like Meta have played a significant role in this. Some have called for greater regulation of the online advertising market, or for new models of revenue sharing between tech companies and news organizations.
Despite these concerns, supporters of the Journalism Preservation Act argue that it is an important step towards ensuring that the public has access to reliable, independent journalism. They point out that the bill would provide much-needed financial support to struggling news organizations, and that it would encourage the development of new, innovative models for journalism. They also argue that the bill is not just a PR stunt by Meta, but a genuine effort to address a pressing social problem.
Ultimately, the fate of the Journalism Preservation Act remains uncertain. While it has been introduced in several states, including California, it has yet to be passed into law. Critics like Evan Low argue that the bill is little more than a band-aid solution to a much larger problem, and that it fails to address the root causes of the decline of journalism. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the bill is an important step towards ensuring that the public has access to reliable, independent journalism, and that it is a necessary response to the changing media landscape. Only time will tell which side is right.
