Statement by Canadian Heritage Minister St-Onge on next steps for the Online News Acthttps://t.co/WytJABXP8G
— GC Newsroom (@NewsroomGC) November 29, 2023
Google and $100 million. Meta (Facebook): still crickets. Bill C-18 aka the Online News Act kicks into law today.
The $100 million toward Canadian journalism sounds good, though, a lot of that money will likely end up in the hands of American hedge funds that control the vast majority of newsprint (Postmedia) in Canada. Robbing from the rich to the rich isn't what Robin Hood had in mind.
There's even the idea that the money the CBC and Radio-Canada would get could be zero (huh?) or less (per measurement of impact) than its privately owned contenders. CBC and Radio-Canada have taxpayer funding so that makes some sense.
Though the CBC cuts, which will do tremendous damage to the public broadcaster, would be lessen in impact with a bit of that Google money.
The major issue is that the money will be pennies (which Canada doesn't even have anymore) in comparison to outlets that are struggling financially, even if they are eligible for such funding. Postmedia and TorStar, the Toronto Star company, companies that almost merged, will get the lions share of the $100 million. That feels … crappy to Canadian journalism.
Google, unlike Facebook, didn't retaliate against Canadian consumers. Again, Facebook has actively been throwing a tantrum for months even though the law hasn't kicked in until … today, December 19.
While $100 million sounds impressive, the number is less than what the government initially thought could be raised through the law. Google reportedly didn't move from that figure in its initial proposal.
A lot of how this money will move to Canadian news outlets is waiting to see what the Trudeau Government determines close to the December 19 date. The idea of strings not being attached means the large companies don't have to hire Canadian journalists or improve their journalism in any manner.
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge submitted more details on what this all means.
"The Trudeau government said the law was needed to support journalism that drives civic engagement, counters disinformation and upholds democracy." Sounds great yet will this happen? We have serious doubts.
Getting Canadian news directly through apps
A guide to quality Canadian journalism in lieu of Meta and Google being childish
How to save news media from our tech overlords (Canadaland)
Pascale St-Onge is the new minister of Canadian heritage
We realise Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge has not been in this office for all that long. We don't trust Pablo Rodriguez on this portfoilo, even though he has served 2 terms in Heritage.
St-Onge has said in interviews that the money will go to digital news outlets. Yet ⅔ of that will go to written media, mostly owned by American hedge funds. Those digital outlets will negotiate with Google.
The Online News Act Is in Force. How We Got Here, What's Next (The Tyee)
CanadianCrossing.com journalism coverage
CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage
CanadianCrossing.com Canadian society coverage
The idea behind Bill C-18 is that Facebook and Google manipulated the classified ad system, draining journalism of a lot of its potential revenue. Balance the scales, even a little. This is what makes Facebook's tantrum all the more frustrating.
Even if, a giant if, Facebook gives up the tantrum, the damage may be done. Hospitals are being backed up. People need information on potential dental care. As we've seen with the CBC, their investigative powers need more funds, not fewer.
Canadian journalism needs a lot more help. Reminds to be seen whether Bill C-18 is part of that help or making things worse.
Twitter capture: @NewsroomGC
photo credit: me/Facebook
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