Two California Bills Aim to Save Journalism by Holding Big Tech Accountable
California lawmakers are taking steps to protect journalism and newsrooms from the impact of social media giants like Facebook and Google. Two bills, AB 886 and SB 1327, are currently in the works to address the decline in newspaper advertising revenue and newsroom staff over the past decade.
AB 886, also known as the Journalism Usage Fee bill, would require Big Tech companies to pay newsrooms for linking to their stories on platforms like Facebook and Google. The idea is to compensate news publishers for the content they produce, especially when readers only engage with headlines on social media without clicking through to the full story.
On the other hand, SB 1327 proposes a data extraction mitigation fee or sales tax on tech platforms earning over $2.5 billion in annual revenue. This fee would help fund tax credits for reporters’ salaries and support schools, acknowledging the impact tech companies have had on the decline in newspaper revenue and staffing.
While these bills aim to support journalism in the digital age, tech companies like Google have expressed opposition to the proposals. Some argue that sharing news links on their platforms actually benefits newspapers by expanding their reach and audience. However, the bills highlight the need for solutions to sustain journalism in the face of changing media consumption habits.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how these proposed laws will shape the future of journalism in California and potentially set a precedent for other states to follow. It’s a delicate balance between supporting news organizations and recognizing the role of tech platforms in distributing news content online.
For more insights into the bills and their potential impact on journalism, watch the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks where Josh Molina discusses the intricacies of these proposed laws. The future of journalism in the digital age may depend on finding innovative solutions that ensure news organizations can thrive in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
