Google to Pay Publishers for Content


Google has announced an arrangement that will see it pay publishers for news content, as a component of its Google News Showcase program. This is while it continues to negotiate with the Australian authorities over a proposed implementation of new regulations. These new regulations would only force Google and Facebook to share their revenues with local publishers and content providers. Google has since quite a while ago opposed calls to pay news publishers for the utilization of their contents, claiming that, all things considered, it’s assisting with directing people to their sites with threats to block links leading to sites of publishers from Australia should the regulation be implemented.

Last year, Google announced the creation of a new program called the Google News Showcase, This program is not exactly what publishers have long called for but this new development seems to be a favourable deal for publishers as it enables them earn while the get exposure on the platform

According to Google, “This financial commitment—our biggest to date—will pay publishers to create and curate high-quality content for a different kind of online news experience. Google News Showcase is a new product that will benefit both publishers and readers: It features the editorial curation of award-winning newsrooms to give readers more insight on the stories that matter, and in the process, helps publishers develop deeper relationships with their audiences.”

This platform first rolled out in Brazil and Germany late last year and in the time period, it claims to have signed deals with nearly 450 publishers across several countries in the world.

Evidently, Google is essentially trying to prevent strict restrictions from governments, hence the birth of this project. In addition to French publications, Google has announced a deal with Reuters and it’s over 2,000 journalists around the world.

“These new partners are in addition to the existing News Showcase publications that are live in Brazil and Germany, and have already created tens of thousands of panels which have been seen by millions of users across Google News and Discover on Android and iOS.”

A lot have argued that Google would need the help of local content to survive and the company obviously isn’t downplaying its importance. According to them, “Local news organizations have always been critical in keeping people informed, and that is more true now than ever before amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With News Showcase, we want to ensure that local news publishers play a strong role in our product. These outlets, with their deep coverage of local events, schools, crime and government, are a cornerstone of well-informed and functioning communities. Ensuring users around the world have access to high-quality local news is of tremendous importance, and it’s one of the areas where we’re heavily investing for 2021”.

The partnership between Google and local news providers may be difficult to achieve but for now; the Google News Showcase seems to be a great way to ensure a two way gain on the digital platform.