The Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) has in its latest report, “Media Feast, News Famine: Ten Global Advertising Trends That Threaten Independent Journalism,” identified Facebook as one of 10 factors threatening independent journalism.
The report which looks at the sobering implications of the growing dominance of global players on digital and mobile platforms states that “Facebook is no longer just a social media platform, it has become a dominant advertising environment in the mobile space, just as mobile becomes the dominant global advertising platform. It has the power to dictate terms and change the rules at will.”
The report, written by Michelle Foster, not only looks at the ten factors affecting independent news media, it also explores how news outlets are performing in the digital advertising market.
The report identified some factors including that: many audiences have switched to digital, especially mobile; ubiquitous, high-quality media compete for attention in an expanding world media market; advertising placement is driven by data, not deals, and mobile advertisement blockers shut out revenue.
The report explores how those working to support independent media around the world can help to ensure that local and national news media continue to thrive in the changing media environment.
Michelle J. Foster is a media management and marketing consultant who helps news media companies to improve business performance.
The Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA), at the National Endowment for Democracy, works to strengthen the support, raise the visibility, and improve the effectiveness of independent media development throughout the world. CIMA provides information, builds networks, conducts research, and highlights the indispensable role independent media play in the creation and development of sustainable democracies.
The report can be found at http://www.cima.ned.org/resource/media-feast-new-famine-ten-global-advertising-trends-threaten-independent-journalism/.
