The Alliance Responds to Facebook’s Reported News Content Licensing Plans

On August 9, the News Media Alliance released a statement following reports that Facebook is planning to license content from news publishers, including headlines and previews. In the statement, Alliance President and CEO David Chavern welcomes the news but notes the need for more details about the plans. In particular, the statement calls for more details about the scope, terms, and effects of the plans on news publishers. The statement also emphasizes the need to level the playing field between news publishers and the dominant online platforms by passing the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act in Congress. According to news reports, Facebook would pay publishers up to $3 million a year for licensing content for their news tab, planned to be launched in the fall. Read more about Facebook’s reported plans here and the Alliance statement here.