Why Big Tech Should Subsidize Real Journalism
https://www.wired.com/story/dont-stop-the-presses-why-big-tech-should-subsidize-real-journalism/
The article tells a compelling narrative on the impact that tech companies such as Google and Facebook have on local press. It’s no news that the presence of these tech companies threatens the well-being of the traditional media. Gendreau describes an incidence that Bay Area News Group has to fire its copy editors and designers even when its paper East Bay Times just won the Pulitzer Prize.
Online media linked to platforms like Google and Facebook thrive with the Network effect we discussed in class. One is more likely to view a news if it’s popular, relevant, or when their social circle is reading it. Having control over such data, tech giants are able to provide the most relevant content at the most fitting time. Furthermore, from our discussion of the “rich-get-richer” dynamics, we understand that popularity does not follow a normal distribution, but rather exhibits extremes—the most popular books are very widespread, but others are barely read (i.e., there is a “long tail”). Certain news or press go viral for such reason, while others remain unheard of.
However, this article sheds light on another very important aspect that even tech at the moment cannot mediate. There exists a cascading effect of people’s contentment with the community they belong to, and such contentment is fostered through their understanding of what’s going on locally.
In class we discussed the fundamental idea of diffusion; we know that there is a key difference between learning about a new idea and actually deciding to adopt it.Digital media serves as a powerful way to introduce and consolidate information through countless weak ties. On the other hand, there is a higher threshold for people to adopt and change their behaviors. To be willing to take on collective action, one’s behavior is most likely to be impacted by strong ties. In this case, local news can foster such strong ties a lot better than online media.
Recent political and social turmoil taking place on and off-line validates the importance of community-driven actions. Although it is likely that profitability of local press will keep decreasing, tech giants—as responsible social players—should subsidize real journalism so people feel like they are part of a close-knit community and also a part of something bigger.