Online News Act creates ‘moment of reckoning’ for publishers

TORONTO – Meta and Google’s move away from linking to Canadian news sites is a “moment of reckoning” for publishers and broadcasters that have heavily relied on social media to build audiences, marketing and journalism experts say.

They believe the Online News Act, which will force digital giants to pay media outlets for content they share or repurpose on their platforms when it comes into effect later this year, could spark new discussions about how publishers market themselves and engage with audiences.

“This is a moment of reckoning for brands that want to support the public interest and want to be seen, but don’t want to be seen on platforms that are negatively perceived by the public,” said Courtney Radsch, director of Center for Journalism and Liberty, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

In response to the act known as Bill C-18, Meta and Google have said they will remove news by Canadian journalism outlets from their sites before the law comes into force.