With the backing of the Interamerican Press Association (IAPA), Dominican media have joined other regional voices to avoid the demise of journalism in these days of Google News, Facebook, influencers and social media. 18 international and Americas media associations call for “a fair and reasonable remuneration for publishing journalistic content on digital platforms.” The media complain of abusive practices in the digital advertising market.
The statement “Media of the Americas Call for the Defense of the Values of Professional Journalism in the Digital Ecosystem” is signed by 18 international and national associations. These institutions comprise more than 40,000 media from Canada, United States, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
The document stresses, “The sustainability of journalism is at risk.” Although “the media have more significant audiences than ever before (…) intermediaries that account for more than 80% of the world’s digital advertising now absorb the resources used to finance professional journalism”, it adds.
In addition to payment for content and advertising concentration in online services such as Google and Facebook, the associations pay special attention to algorithms, and say the opacity and discretionally of these affects the production and distribution of content by the traditional media.
The news associations agreed to ask digital platforms to accelerate their pay-for-content and media support programs in working meetings. In addition, they request that these programs be more inclusive, benefiting both more prominent publications and those that provide coverage to small communities and need to remain incorporated into democratic life.
Persio Maldonado, executive editor of El Nuevo Diario is heading the campaign for the Dominican Republic.
22 September 2021