Wednesday 11th October: Google threatens to join Meta in blocking news in Canada

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We’re excited to have an initial list of confirmed speakers for Mx3 AI: the event we’re collaborating with Media Makers Meet to put on. Come and hear from Bauer’s Global SEO Director, GenAI Con’s Founder, The Journalism AI Project’s Director and more on how publishers can make the most of the opportunities AI provides.

(Yes yes it’s rainbow lorikeets not chickens but they’re Google colours so go with me on this one!)

This move from Google is somewhat inevitable after Meta blocked news in Canada on its platforms a few months ago. A loss of traffic from Facebook would knock some publishers, perhaps by as much as a quarter or third, but many have seen their social media traffic crater over the last 12 months anyway.

If Google follows through on its threat to cut off news in Canada (from around mid-Dec), this would absolutely decimate publishers in the country. I don’t necessarily think this is a case of ‘corporate bullying’ - both platforms have made it clear news is of little value to their business models so they're simply following through on that with a practical demonstration.

But where will this end? If Canada changes or retracts the bill (which in itself is hugely flawed) then similar efforts elsewhere will fall apart. But publishers will be caught in the crossfire if nothing changes.

“The models that have worked in the past are not the ones that will work going forward,” writes Jacob Donnelley in the most recent edition of his newsletter. He argues that traffic as a unit of currency simply won’t matter anymore, and we need to develop new ways of acquiring and retaining audiences. The latter is more straightforward - make good stuff - but getting it in front of people is a whole lot harder these days (see top story).

Media leaders from ITN, Sky News, The Guardian, AP, Future, Bauer, GB News, Mediahuis and more shared how they have begun to use generative AI at a recent Press Gazette event. In total contrast to the above two stories though, Future’s CEO Jon Steinberg (ex Buzzfeed and Cheddar) said he saw more opportunities in social media right now than ChatGPT. I’m saying nothing…

Well this is an interesting theory which might explain why we’re seeing so many print launches and revivals. But not print-on-demand content, which columnist David Cohn acknowledges is already being targeted and exploited by generative AI. Non-demand-driven print however, requires up-front investment. “By recognizing this investment, the consuming public can establish an immediate and direct line to trust — a trust that is authenticated by the very presence of content chosen to be put in print.”

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