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Facebook Pledges $300 Million to "Support Journalism"

posted by chromas on Friday January 18 2019, @06:02AM   

takyon writes:

Facebook made a $300 million pledge to help journalists — just like Google did last year

Facebook says it is going to spend $300 million over the next three years to support journalism.

Does that sound familiar?

Here's why: Ten months ago, Google said it was going to spend $300 million over three years to support journalism.

Facebook says it's just a coincidence that it landed on the same dollar amount that its primary competitor landed on last year. But I'm not complaining. In part because I want Google and Facebook to spend money supporting journalism. And also because it means I don't have to rewrite this piece, from March 2018: "Google and Facebook can't help publishers because they're built to defeat publishers."

Previously: Google Pledges $300 Million for "Google News Initiative" to Fight Fake News

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Original Submission

• Re:No thank you (Score: 3, Insightful) by Spamalope on Friday January 18 2019, @06:58AM

  by Spamalope (5233) on Friday January 18 2019, @06:58AM (#788162) Homepage

  To be fair, some will go towards political advocacy and at least some outright propaganda as well in addition to Gawker/Enquirer level stuff.
  An ever so slightly cynical read might be: Facebook and Google pledge 600 million* towards political campaign funding disguised as news. * 600 million for placement on their own sites, based on ad rates needed for similar placement

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