IFJ demands media bargaining code for survival of quality journalism

June 11, 2020

New Delhi: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has supported the demand of its  affiliate the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) and Australia’s journalists’ union for a clear timetable for discussions about developing an industry code to ensure a sustainable future for public interest journalism in Australia.

The IFJ said it believethat funding was urgently needed for sustenanace of quality journalism.

The Australian government has said it will legislate for the code to be mandatory to address bargaining power imbalances between Australian news media businesses and digital platforms. In its submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding the development of the code, MEAA said a decade of job losses and struggling media outlets have threatened Australia’s news media industry. Digital disruption has led to falling revenues, particularly advertising income, as Google and Facebook have seen a surge in advertising income and market share.

MEAA’s media section federal president, Marcus Strom, said: “Since January 2019 more than 200 broadcast and print newsrooms have closed temporarily or for good. So far in 2020, Covid-19 has contributed to the suspension or permanent closure of more than 100 newspaper mastheads, many of them in regional Australia. We estimate that the Australian media is on track to lose a further 1000 editorial jobs this year alone.

The impact of this sudden and massive decline in Australian media is profound, according to MEAA. “It means that communities have lost their local voice and there is less scrutiny of powerful interests,” Strom said.

The IFJ said: “A Media Bargaining Code would address the fair value of news content and content creation, whether it be a large media house or a freelancer. Journalism cannot survive without adequate funding to support quality journalism nationally, regionally and locally.”

—India News Stream