Facebook will donate “new fund” money to 170 Australian newspapers as part of a licensing agreement, the parties said on Friday, calling the move a sign of co-operation between the communications giant and local publishers.
The move lays the groundwork for Facebook’s announced deals in Australia since the country enacted a law and the Google Alphabet to negotiate payment for content in media outlets or jeopardize government interventions.
Since the law came into effect in February, leading media providers such as News Corp, Nine Entertainment, and Australia Broadcasting Corp have signed deals or donations to Big Tech players.
An agreement reached by Country Press Australia (CPA) and tech giant would bring Facebook funding to platforms such as The Bunyip, 8,750 broadcasts, and Gympie Today, with 4,000 broadcasts, as they are among the 170 stores represented. yes.
The terms of the agreement, including the duration, amount of money and how it will be allocated and how it will be used, were not disclosed in the CPA and Facebook joint statement.
The statement said the parties had signed the letter for the sole purpose of signing the agreement.
“This funding will help Country Press Australia members build their digital businesses and reach new audiences,” said Andrew Hunter, a leading Facebook communications manager in Australia and New Zealand.
“It is part of our continued investment in Australian journalism and our partnership with the media to build sustainable business models,” he added.
CPA President Andrew Manuel said Facebook’s support “will help maintain community-based journalism for more regional and local people” in which body parts are published.
Prior to the passing of Australian laws, Facebook and Google have campaigned for the move, including a move by Facebook to cut short content of the world’s news media.
American firms have offered a number of deals, though some small publishers have said they have not yet reached the negotiating table.
