UNESCO Seeks Fair Compensation for News Content

Journalists attend a press conference at the COP30 meeting in Belém, Brazil.

The UN cultural agency UNESCO has launched a global consultation to help shape its draft guidance on fair compensation for news content, as digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly rely on journalism.

The initiative comes at a time when concerns are growing over the financial sustainability of news organisations and the future of independent journalism.

UNESCO said protecting the sustainability of news media has become more urgent than ever to safeguard journalism and preserve information integrity in the digital age.

The draft guidance highlights major disruptions in the media landscape, including declining funding for public-interest journalism, shrinking local and community news outlets, and structural changes in the global information economy.

According to UNESCO, a small number of powerful multinational digital platforms and AI companies now play a central role in connecting media organisations with audiences.

These platforms increasingly shape content discovery, influence how journalism reaches the public, and control access to digital advertising markets, significantly affecting the economic conditions under which journalism operates.

UNESCO is inviting feedback from governments, regulators, media organisations, civil society groups, academic institutions, and other stakeholders until 30 July.

Through an online consultation, participants can submit views on how the draft guidance can be improved to better protect freedom of expression, strengthen media viability, and support independent journalism in the evolving digital environment.

Submissions are being accepted in English, French, and Spanish.

Ahead of the deadline, UNESCO will also organise three regional online roundtables to gather perspectives from stakeholders across Asia-Pacific and the Arab States, Africa and Europe, and the Americas and the Caribbean.

The draft guidance builds on UNESCO’s 2023 Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, which emphasise the importance of media sustainability, diversity, and pluralism.

It also reflects the agency’s broader work on generative AI governance, human rights impact assessments, and international principles promoting fair compensation for journalism.

UNESCO said the initiative reinforces its ongoing efforts to strengthen media independence, long-term sustainability, and economic viability.

The final draft of the guidance is expected to be published later this year, alongside a report summarising the key findings and contributions received during the consultation process.