View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Digital Journalism
October 20, 2017updated 23 Oct 2017 11:58am

Digital Summit: News UK chief says press must fix ‘broken relationship’ with online platforms or face end of independent news

By Dominic Ponsford

News UK’s chief operating officer has warned that not fixing the “broken relationship” between the news industry and social media platforms will result in edited, verified and independent reporting “ceasing to exist”.

Opening Press Gazette’s Digital Media Summit today, held at News UK’s headquarters in London Bridge, Dinsmore said: “News gatherers are spending nearly all the money digging up the news.

“News is the vital component that makes people really engage with social media. The social media platforms are extracting nearly all the revenue from that news on their plaforms.”

He added: “This is not a complaint. This is a statement of reality.”

Dinsmore said the “terrifying prospect of not sorting this broken relationship is a world where edited, verified news simply ceases to exist unless it is funded by the state.

“In other words, we will be left with the BBC and a network of bloggers so small they will be able to live unregulated and largely outside of the rule of law.”

He also warned that the likes of Google and Facebook would also be affected as the “verified news fuel for the platforms would also disappear”.

Content from our partners
Unified solution offers publishers unrivalled print and digital efficiency
How DPG Media invested in print technology to help it focus on digital
How to make sure you are social media ready for job hunting

Dinsmore claimed newsbrands accounted for two-thirds of the total spend on news provision in the UK and that their reach had “never been greater” thanks “in no small part” to the social media platforms.

But, he said: “Here’s the rub: great stories, massive popularity, huge reach, but revenues – and advertising revenues in particular – declining faster than the Prime Minister’s approval rating.”

The Duopoly (Google and Facebook) are already taking the lion’s share of digital advertising revenue in the UK, while print advertising revenues continue to decline.

By 2020, Google and Facebook are expected to take 71 per cent of all the money spent in the UK on digital advertising, according to a report by analysts OC&C.

Dinsmore added: “We have arrived at a moment in time and it is not an exaggeration to say that where we go from here will shape our democracy and society.

“We will either forge genuine, mutually beneficial partnerships between news gatherers and platforms or we will watch as the news becomes ever more fake and public faith in democracy collapses.”

Earlier this year Press Gazette launched its Dupoly campaign calling on Facebook and Google to pay more back to news publishers.

Picture: Press Gazette/James Young

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network