Neos Kosmos is joining more than 25 independent Australian media outlets to stop publishing news on Facebook and other social sites today for 24 hours.
Today, Neos Kosmos is participating in the news freeze alongside other news outlets, including Broadsheet Media, The Australian Jewish News, Concrete Playground, Star Observer and City Hub, in a collective freeze to fight for the future of independent Australian news media. The news freeze will let the Australian government know that small and medium sized news publishers are #WaitingOnZuck to come to the negotiating table with independent publishers.
In March 2021, the News Media Bargaining Code, introduced by the Australian Government (courtesy of Josh Frydenberg) tried to fix the power imbalance between big tech and media publishers.
Whilst Facebook and Google struck up major deals with the big media players like Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and Nine (owner of Channel Nine, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald etc.) @MarkZuckerberg has failed to come to the table with the majority of small and medium sized publishers. The government’s promise to redress the power imbalance between big tech and media has only benefited the ‘big boys’ in media and once again leaving small community media without support.
Which is why many news media businesses, including Neos Kosmos, across the country have frozen their feeds today while we’re all #WaitingOnZuck.
Today, publishers across Australia are joining forces to shine a light on the power imbalance between independent journalism and digital platforms. We know that together we can secure the future of journalism and independent community news, which is why we’ve come together in calling on @JoshFrydenbergMP to designate digital platforms under the Code.
Can you help us let @JoshFrydenbergMP, @JimChalmersMP and @MRowlandMP know that the Code was a great start – but there’s more work to be done to secure the future of independent community news?
For more information visit www.waitingonzuck.com.
