Tech Won't Save Us

Google and Meta Are A Threat to Journalism w/ Matt Pearce

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.

01:01:22

Episode guests

Matt Pearce

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Major tech companies like Google and Meta are sidestepping legislation aimed at funding journalism, exacerbating the media crisis.

The decline of local journalism is linked to the monopolistic practices of tech firms which undermine the viability of various news outlets.

A shift towards a 'post-hyperlink internet' driven by algorithm-focused content poses challenges for accountability and information sharing in journalism.

Deep dives

Legislation for Journalism Funding

California proposed legislation aimed at requiring major tech companies like Google and Meta to allocate funds to support journalism. This initiative was motivated by the growing struggles of the media industry, including significant layoffs and the decline of both traditional and digital news outlets. The proposed bills included the California Journalism Preservation Act and a data mining tax, both designed to ensure that journalism could thrive in the digital age. The outcome of these legislative efforts highlights an ongoing global battle between news publishers and dominant tech platforms over fair compensation for journalism.

Intro

3min

Legislative Efforts to Support Journalism Against Tech Monopolies

5min

Taxing Data Mining for Journalism

3min

Navigating Media Legislation and Tech Influence

32min

The Future of Journalism in a Hyperlink-Free World

11min

The Intersection of Journalism and Generative AI

6min

Paris Marx is joined by Matt Pearce to discuss how Google sidestepped two California bills aimed at funding journalism and how major tech companies are transforming the web to make hyperlinks less relevant.

Matt Pearce is the President of Media Guild of the West and a former reporter at the Los Angeles Times.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Matt wrote about the disingenuous arguments against the California Journalism Preservation Act and the changing nature of hyperlinks online.
Google sidestepped the two California bills to carve out a separate deal that includes funding for an AI initiative.
When you compare per capita public broadcast funding across wealthy nations, Canada is near the bottom, but the United States is barely on the chart.
Google will distribute $100 million to news publishers in Canada after a bargaining process there.
Digital media companies have been doing layoffs and shutting down in droves.
The New York Times used AI to assist in identifying the deadly weapons Israel is using against the people of Gaza.
The Media Ecosystem Observatory looked at the effects of Meta's news ban on its platforms in Canada.