The New York Times:
Facebook’s long-rumored plan to directly host articles from news organizations will start on Wednesday, concluding months of delicate negotiations between the Internet giant and publishers that covet its huge audience but fear its growing power.
Nine media companies, including NBC News and The New York Times, have agreed to the deal, despite concerns that their participation could eventually undermine their own businesses.
In effect, Facebook is using its massive user base as clout to stand between users and the news. Rather than click on a news story link to leave Facebook’s warm embrace, you’ll see the story, in its entirety, in your Facebook feed. This cuts off the ability of the news gatherers to control their distribution and their destiny.
This also gives Facebook tremendous power over what news is fit for their users. How could this be good for the news business?
“How could this be good for the news business?” Ask them how good it is right now, and how good the future is looking. Newspaper publishers are not dummies. They are walking into this with eyes open, and also with a sense of desperation.
And taking the articles away from the news agencies and thus eyeballs from the advertising that keeps them going (somewhat) is a good thing? I’m smelling Facebook blocks, which isn’t good all around.
What does the Times have to do with “news”?
There’s a reason they’re losing readers and barely making money and looking for deals like this.
Like I would go to Facebook for news.
I don’t think their eyes are nearly as open as they believe.
That doesn’t really say anything except that you want to sound smarter than the publishers, which we know cannot be true. Bottom line – no one knows how this will turn out. Many Facebook ventures, including the predecessor to Instant Articles, turn out to be duds.
The news industry is permanently disrupted. If it is not Facebook, it will be someone else swallowing it up and spitting it back out in a different form. Unless someone has a better idea, it is just pointless to snicker at this deal.
I am concerned about this. I do not believe that Facebook has even REMOTELY the same Journalistic priorities, standards, or concerns, as the NY Times or any other even quasi-legit News provider.
Mind you, American News Media has an increasingly tenuous relationship with what passes for Journalism in this age of Corporate Media ascendant. That’s why Jon Stewart is considered more trustworthy and truthful than any of the so-called “legit” mainstream News media. Thank the gods for the BBC…
The Court jester can still shout the truth and keep his head off a pike, so long as he makes ’em laugh.
Yay for the BBC… and the Daily Show.