Watching the senate inquiry on the #NMBC.

Do none of these senators understand the internet? Advertising? Marketing?

#auspol

How are regional papers shutting down the responsibility of Google?

#auspol

How is the news media bargaining code going to support small publishers? Hint: it does not.

#auspol

Google & FB will improve media diversity. Yes! Finally someone speaking some sense.

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According to this senator—the NMBC is correcting a market imbalance in advertising.

You mean the imbalance that has occurred because big media didn’t adapt to the digital landscape?

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“Legislative change is critical sometimes—but it has to be the *right* legislative change.”

Correct! And the #NMBC is *not* the right legislative change.

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"The ACCC's own evidence doesn't support conclusion that there is a bargaining power imbalance"

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Google does not dominate the market. Google only in the new media access value chain 26% of the time.

#auspol

Google is not an unavoidable trading partner for News media.

#auspol

Google is helping lots of news media businesses thrive (Dr. Kelly).

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"News businesses are not entitled to 100% of the digital advertising market" — Dr. Kelly

#auspol #senateinquiry #NMBC

Having large market power is not prohibited — esp. if gained through competition & being better.

#auspol

Country Press Australia appearing to the senate inquiry now.

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Representing various country newspaper mastheads. CPA represents 160 independent mastheads.

Consultation for NMBC has been skewed towards large businesses—CPA

#auspol

Printed newspapers are still their primary source of revenue.

#auspol #NBMC

CPA news publications provide hyperlocal voice to regional areas.

#auspol

NMBC Currently rewards large players, not important small players. Will damage media diversity. — CPA

#auspol

Sounds to me like CPA is saying they want a cut of the money from Google/FB too, and they are currently missing out.

#auspol #NMBC

"Should require the content is produced by professionally trained journalists only" — CPA

"Google's success is due to using digital news media content" (paraphrased) CPA.

I reject this premise. Google's success is due to thei quality of their service. News media is low volume, and not a core of their product.

#auspol #NMBC

Seems their argument is that Google should pay to support media, because their media businesses are not viable in the digital world. (Who's fault is that?)

Also shouldn't apply to ABC & SBS. (Because they're not commercial).

#auspol

CPA member business models are not sustainable. (According to CPA).

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They don't have the same level of print advertising revenue as the once had.

No shit!

Digital platforms are cheaper than digital media (yes).

Side Note: Digital platforms also provide better value for that spend.

#auspol #NMBC

Lots of regional people only get news from their hyper-local news paper.

(Well ask them to pay for it instead of Google).

#auspol

If hyperlocal newspapers are no longer financially viable, they need to look at their business models. Keeping your business viable is not Google/FBs job.

#auspol

Google partner with them & provide income to their businesses. Google leaving would be a concern to their businesses. — CPA

#auspol

Google has been discussing Showcase product with small media orgs.

CPA is not opposed to this product.

#auspol

Google News Showcase should be *included* in code (so additional to paid links/snippets).

UK/French deal is a result of AU code. — CPA (doubtful that that is the case).

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CPA would also like to reduce the threshold to estimated $150k revenue demonstrated after one quarter of operations.

#auspol

My opinion: Print newspapers are dying with or without the #NMBC. Hyperlocal news needs to adapt to online platforms and/or non-advertising driven revenue models.

Expecting to be able to run your business the same you have historically in the modern world is ridiculous. #auspol

CPA relies on ad revenue and believe Google has (unfairly) taken the advertising revenue they are somehow entitled to.

#auspol

Country Press Australia doesn't want ABC & SBS (taxpayer funded, apparently unaffected commercially by digital platforms) to benefit from the deal.

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They believe ABC will take some of their share of the Google $

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My opinion: If hyperlocal news is so important to regional areas, why is it not receiving government support?

Why is it the responsibility of another private company to fund this public service?

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CPA : $150k minimum to be 'real' journalism in a business. Couldn't employ a journalist with a $75k a year revenue.

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Code should *only* support commercial journalism. — CPA

(My opinion: this is contradictory to their 'public service' argument to the value of hyperlocal news. Volunteer journalism is valuable too!)

CPA: Most members (all print) *well above* $150k / year.

#auspol #NMBC

CPA doesn't want restriction on the $ from Google being earmarked for public interest journalism only.

#auspol

Sen. Hanson-Young: Should NewsCorp have to show they have used the money from Google to benefit journalism (rather than lining their own pockets.)

#auspol #NMBC

CPA: ABC inclusion will lead to 'unfair' competition in regional areas.

#auspol

CPA: ABC inclusion will reduce the money that local newspapers get from google.

(Apparently ABC is also NOT public interest journalism.)

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CPA: ABC getting more money will reduce regional Australia media diversity.

#auspol

Australia Institute, Centre for Responsible Technology speaking now in the senate inquiry.

#auspol #NMBC

"Appalled to see the threats from Google & Facebook"

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Big Tech is a threat to Australian Democracy. He just compared techs actions to Mao.

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Google & FB terrified of the code because it will call attention to their impact on free media. — AI

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"Capitulation will be a recognition that big tech is more powerful than our government" — AI

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Our reliance on google & FB is a national risk to our sovereignty. — AI

#auspol

Not in our national interest to rely on Google. Australia should build their own tools. — AI

(My opinion: We're part of a GLOBAL economy—this sounds like tech isolationism)

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"Code sets ground rules for a viable public square" — AI

#auspol

Code is only the important first step in getting big tech under control in Australia.

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Media industry has reached a point where some of their new digital business models are starting to work.

Google & will provide a "ballast" for these businesses. — AI

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"Code is a necessary first step in provide a well resourced public interest public square" — Centre for Responsible Technology

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Other search engines will fill the gap. Other search engines/social media will need to be included in the code. CRT

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Younger generation gets news on instagram, youtube, tiktok (apparently "really scary"). — CRT

#auspol

Sounds to me like Centre for Responsible Technology would like to limit what news Australians can access & on what platforms they can access that on.

#auspol

@sarahinthesen8 "do you agree that the underlying core issue is the value of peoples data and their lack of choice in who controls data?"

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Centre for Responsible Technology: This won't break the internet because Google/FB has already made sure the internet isn't free & open.

Getting the algorithm data from Google is important.

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Centre for Responsible Technology: Shocked that FB/Google would remove news & claim news is not central to their business.

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"Removing news proves that Google sees news as a transaction"

FB = "Cute cats & conspiracy theories" without Aus news media

± Centre for Responsible Technology

#auspol

"All content is not the same" News journalism content is "worth more".

—Centre for Responsible Technology

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"a Strange Moment" some people opposed *only* because it's going to support NewsCorp/Nine

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Not about 'old media' not adaptiong. About Google having too much power. Not about media getting left behind.

About consequences of Google having too much control & killing the media sector/media diversity.

— Centre for Responsible Technology

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Sen. Hanson-Young: Fair to say Google/FB are an essential service?

Centre for Responsible Technology: Made compelling with what appears a 'free' entry point. Withdrawing their business would be hugely disruptive.

#auspol

"outsourced best way to build tech platform for Australia to silicone valley" — Centre for Responsible Technology

#auspol #NMBC

"Businesses premised on extracting our personal information as payment for their services provided is not in public interest of Australians"

— Centre for Responsible Technology

#auspol #NMBC

Solstice Media speaking at #NMBC senate inquiry now.

#auspol

Publisher of Crikey, SA Life & Others.

Supports diversely owned public media.

#auspol

Listened to big media tell govt. that Google/FB steals their content & ad revenue.

Truth is there is no content stealing. Media companies actively provide content because they gain benefit

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Ad revenue not stolen either.

Ad revenue mostly from classifieds has gone to classified websites.

Vast bulk of Google/FB ad revenue doesn't come from News content.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Google/FB should pay a social licence for collateral damage & drop the lie about 'stealing'.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

#NMBC should support diversity, needs to be more nuanced.

Specific mechanism for smaller publishers to guarantee their fair share.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Platforms have redline issues—we need to negotiate with the platforms on these points to make a fair code.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Minor adjustments to the legislation would help platforms be willing to participate & help small media.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Solstice Media publications are digital only, and advertising funded, successfully.

#auspol

As the code stands now, will benefit Solstice Media but needs to be negotiated so Google & FB don't withdraw.

Losing G/FB makes the code meaningless.

#auspol

Google paying for snippets/links is a global precedent. Clearly this will likely break their business model.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Legislation needs more clarity. Code needs to be about support for news media—not forcing Google to break their business.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Arbitration opposed by the code is an obscure one, and might not be the best option to address the power imbalance.

We want Google to support news media.

But they have no idea how much it will cost Google to be involved.

— Solstice Media

#auspol #NMBC

Sen Hanson-Young: MEAA proposed codification revenue collected through code be directed to public interest journalism. Does Solstice Media share this concern?

#auspol

Solstice Media: Yes. Should be accountable that the money is going to journalism.

#auspol

Solstice Media: Very few independent media orgs outside hyperlocal orgs; 150 staff / 40% journalists.

All digital only start ups.

#auspol

Look at the media ecosystem that exists in this country. Does diversity make a difference?

Current code will further consolidate media ownership of big orgs.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Opportunity for the parliament to do something meaningful about media diversity without endangering big media.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

@sarahinthesen8 "We have a problem with media diversity & this code doesn't address that."

#auspol

There are 50/100 small media orgs who are above $150k threshold so threshold is OK.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Would not be difficult to incorporate a guideline that applies a formula/percentage to ensure distribution of google $ to reach small players on a needs basis.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Both Companies of Solstice Media have arrangements for Google News Showcase in place. These are content licensing deals. Done last year.

Currently get 25% of value while waiting for showcase to launch.

— Solstice Media

#auspol

Will that deal be terminated under the code?

Not automatically, no: Solstice Media

#auspol

Solstice Media take content from AAP NewsWire.

Sen. Hanson-Young: Should AAP have ongoing public funding/Additional support?

Solstice Media: Odd that AAP is excluded from the code if the code is designed to support journalism.

#auspol

Does the argument that small media might not get their share hold up to the arbitration process proposed?

Solstice Media: smaller orgs don't have the power of NewsCorp etc;, so it doesn't just depend on negotiation skills. No hints at actual cost or how that will be distributed.

NewsCorp will dominate, like they dominate the entire media landscape.

#auspol

Is the code necessary?

Solstice Media: #NMBC will make a huge difference if framed correctly with emphasis on diversity of ownership (not current form).

#auspol

Solstice Media: more like a social licence because they have not stolen content or advertising. That is a "crazy pretext".

#auspol

Solstice Media: Google/FB to pay a social licence to benefit news media with no influence on output.

Alternatively if there is no public funding, journalism is at risk. If not the code there needs to be government supportive funding.

#auspol

Solstice Media: What we would do is employ more journalists & cover more areas [with the extra funds] not just buy from the AAP.

Machines can't create journalism.

#auspol

Committee is breaking for 1 hour. Will be back at 2pm.

(I'll be back too, because i'm tweeting this as much for my own records of what was said as I am for anyone listening )