We are encouraged by the creation of the Facebook News Tab and that Facebook is prioritizing – and paying for – quality journalism. However, participation so far is limited, and Facebook is only paying a few news publishers included in the News Tab. We are concerned that anything less than a fully comprehensive solution could put some publishers that are already struggling at a distinct disadvantage. So, while it’s a good start, currently it is far from a comprehensive solution. We need this to be for the whole news ecosystem, not a piecemeal solution. We look forward to seeing how the News Tab works in practice to elevate news from reputable publications. We also hope that Google will follow suit and work to create a more comprehensive solution for news on its platform — instead of actively fighting news publishers around the world.
David Chavern is former President & CEO of the News/Media Alliance. Chavern has 30 years of experience in executive strategic and operational roles. Prior to the Alliance, he completed a decade-long tenure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
