Exploring the botched effort to get money from social media linking news; contrasting American work habits with Europe's; honoring Shirley Conran for her empowering books; challenges for news publishers in Canada; the impact of taxation on work motivation; and the push for female empowerment through controversial writing.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Canada's law to make social media pay for news links harmed publishers by reducing web traffic.
News outlets are adapting to engage audiences through alternative means like newsletters and apps.
Deep dives
Impact on Canadian News Outlets and Meta
Canada implemented a law requiring social media giants like Facebook to pay news outlets for sharing their links. However, Meta, which owns Facebook, refused to comply, leading to Canadian news sites being blocked on the platform. This move has significantly reduced web traffic for many publishers, impacting smaller sites like Gugukwer's News, which focuses on indigenous stories.
Challenges and Adaptations of News Publishers
The ban on news content sharing has forced news publishers like Energetic City to find alternative ways to engage audiences. Energetic City faced a 30-40% traffic drop initially but managed to recover by launching initiatives like newsletters, apps, and posters with QR codes. Despite challenges, some publishers are adapting by exploring new strategies to retain readership.
Regulatory Disputes and Publisher Compensation
The law aiming to ensure news outlets receive payment from platforms like Meta has sparked debates on regulatory obligations. While Google has committed to paying newsrooms, Meta has not paid yet. This situation has left publishers like Maureen unsure about the financial impact. The dispute raises questions about fairness, with various stakeholders expressing frustration towards the government and Meta's stance on compensating news publishers.
A bid to squeeze money from social-media platforms that link to news content has backfired: what was intended to help publishers is instead harming them. America’s workers still work more than Europe’s; what is changing is where they do it (9:44). And remembering Shirley Conran, whose books were more than merely saucy: they helped women with everything from money to mathematics (16:22).