Tech Won't Save Us Google and Meta Are A Threat to Journalism w/ Matt Pearce
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Sep 12, 2024 In this discussion, Matt Pearce, President of Media Guild of the West and former Los Angeles Times reporter, dives into the challenging landscape of journalism under the influence of tech giants. He reveals how Google sidestepped key California bills aimed at supporting journalism and the chilling effect of tech monopolies on media integrity. They touch on the drastic changes in hyperlink relevance, the push for more public funding to sustain news, and the potential dangers of AI in reporting. Pearce emphasizes the need for strong collective bargaining to defend journalism's future.
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California Bills
- California proposed two bills: the California Journalism Preservation Act and a data mining tax.
- These aimed to make tech companies fund journalism, mirroring similar efforts in other countries.
US Journalism Funding
- The US lags behind other democracies in public investment in journalism.
- California's bills were the most ambitious local journalism support since the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Small Business Opposition
- Small businesses, influenced by tech lobbying, opposed a digital ad tax, claiming it would hurt them.
- Matt Pearce's investigation revealed many of these businesses weren't even advertising on the platforms.