Facebook agrees content deals with Australian publishers as truce holds

Facebook’s deal is similar to Google’s deal with over 40 News Corp properties

The deals were signed with Australian independent news organizations Private Media, Schwartz Media and Solstice Media.

"We have collaborated with Facebook in the past and we look forward to the ways in which this deal will help us to continue producing Australia's leading independent journalism. It's never been more important than it is now to have a plurality of voices in the Australian press,” said Rebecca Costello, the chief executive of Schwartz Media.

Will Hayward, the chief executive of Private Media added: “We are excited to grow our existing partnership with Facebook; this new round of support will help fund independent journalism in Australia, as well as bring our reporting to new and diverse audiences on Facebook.”

Why is this important?

• Facebook recently ended its blockade of Australian news articles on its news feed after coming to an understanding with the Australia government over their spat on paying news outlets for content.

• It had previously blocked almost all Australian news on its platform to protest a proposed law that would oblige digital platforms to compensate media outlets for online content, inadvertently also blocking access to government information pages.

• Facebook’s deal is similar to Google’s deal with over 40 News Corp properties in a dedicated Google News Showcase, including The Wall Street Journal in the US, The Times in the UK and Sky News in Australia itself.

• The Google-News Corp deal is similar to Google’s multi-million dollar deals with smaller Australian publishers including Seven West, Nine Entertainment and Junkee Media.

• Both parties will also develop a subscription platform, cultivate audio and video journalism and share ad revenue.