And in doing so, sustaining democratic societies, a vital counterweight to political and economic power. Yet from 2015 to 2020 spending on digital advertising more than doubled to €140 billion. The markets of digital platforms are not completely comparable, but significant parts of their revenue, and hence advertising base, are attributable to the dissemination free online of news expensively gathered by news organisations. The Government has promised a review of the issues faced by Ireland’s many media platforms. That must include urgent consideration of the means to guarantee the survival of news organisations, from a long-awaited review of defamation laws, to making digital platforms contribute to news gathering costs, and to reducing taxation.

Source: The Irish Times September 28, 2020 00:00 UTC