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British newspaper groups have criticized Meta for discontinuing the Facebook News service and cutting funding for local journalism. In a strongly worded letter addressed to Meta’s global affairs president, Nick Clegg, the social media group is cautioned about the detrimental impact of its decision on democracy and society.
The letter, sent by the News Media Association (NMA) and seen by the Financial Times, emphasizes the financial and democratic implications of Meta’s actions. Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, and Michelle Donelan, the technology minister, also received copies of the letter. Nick Clegg, a former British minister, currently holds the position of Meta’s global affairs president and previously served as the leader of the Liberal Democrat party and deputy prime minister in the UK coalition government between 2010 and 2015.
In response to Meta’s announcement to end Facebook News and halt funding for local journalism in the UK, the NMA highlights the urgency of the situation and describes Meta’s actions as a threat to democracy and society. Meta justified its decision by stating that it wants to allocate investments to the products and services that are most valued by users.
The NMA argues in its letter that the removal of editorially controlled news from platforms like Facebook has detrimental effects on society. With the forthcoming UK general election, the NMA warns that the absence of trustworthy news jeopardizes both the media industry’s financial stability and the public’s reliance on Facebook as a source of information.
The NMA, which advocates for the interests of the £4bn news media sector, represents over 900 news media titles, including renowned publications such as The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, and the Daily Mirror, as well as regional newspapers like the Manchester Evening News, the Sheffield Star, and the Yorkshire Post.
The letter, signed by NMA chair Jim Mullen, who also serves as the chief executive of Mirror and Express owner Reach, requests a meeting with Meta to discuss how the platform can support news publishers and ensure the dissemination of reliable news and information.
In addition to scrapping Facebook News, Meta has decided against renewing funding for the Community News Project, which supports journalism in underserved communities. Over the past five years, Meta has contributed $17mn to the CNP.
The NMA reminds Meta that when the Community News Project was launched, Facebook acknowledged its significant role as a platform for news consumption. Despite Meta’s dwindling interest in news, the NMA stresses that platforms like Facebook remain crucial for news discovery and voter information.
Meta has already discontinued Instant Articles, a mobile-friendly news format on the Facebook app, citing its negative impact on publishers’ digital revenue, including Reach.
The NMA expresses concern that Meta’s deprioritization of authoritative news sources within its news feed further impedes publishers’ ability to attract and monetize traffic.
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