Read PIJI’s statement on Meta’s commercial agreements with Australian news publishers.

The Public Interest Journalism Initiative notes today’s news that Meta will not renew any of their commercial agreements with Australian news organisations.

While not unexpected, this confirmation represents a major blow to the production of public interest news in this country and a loss of millions of dollars to the sector.

“Public interest news production in Australia needs long-term structural reform, as well as immediate attention,” explains PIJI CEO Anna Draffin.

“A series of sequential and overlapping shocks have hit this sector, including the decline of the business model (accelerated during the pandemic), the advent of generative AI and now Meta not renewing Australian commercial agreements with news organisations.

“These shocks can be seen in newsroom closures, declines in news producers’ earnings, as well as declines in advertising spend.

“A democracy cannot function without a healthy news sector. We know this is a priority for government and it must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“PIJI is actively engaging with government, industry and the community through initiatives such as the government’s News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) to find viable, evidence-based, long-term solutions, but clearly in the meantime there is the need for immediate support.”