Recently, the California state government announced a groundbreaking collaboration agreement, which will for the first time utilize taxpayer funds in partnership with technology companies to provide financial support for the news industry and artificial intelligence research. The total amount of this agreement is expected to reach $250 million, with plans to gradually implement it over the next five years, starting with an initial investment of $100 million in the first year. California Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks stated that this funding will primarily be used to support California news organizations and to create an artificial intelligence research project.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed that this agreement represents a new breakthrough for the survival of the news industry, not only enhancing the vitality of local news but also providing more employment opportunities for California's journalists. He believes that news plays a crucial role in a democratic society, and this funding will help rebuild a strong and vibrant California news team.
Over the past year, there has been intense debate between tech giants and legislators surrounding this agreement. Initially, Wicks proposed that tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft should pay a certain percentage of their ad revenue to media companies in exchange for linking to their content. This proposal was met with strong opposition from the tech industry, with some companies even attempting to exert pressure by temporarily removing news sites from their search results.
Despite criticism, the California News Publishers Association expressed support for the agreement, stating that it will promote the sustained development of local news organizations. However, some journalists from media unions expressed concerns about the funding, fearing it could have negative impacts on California's news institutions.
Some state senators pointed out that the agreement does not adequately address the crisis faced by California's news industry. They worry that despite the tech companies' substantial profits, the funding provided to news organizations is still insufficient to fully alleviate the industry's inequality issues.
Key Points:
1. 💰 California will collaborate with tech companies to provide $250 million in funding for the news industry and AI research.
2. 📰 The new agreement aims to strengthen local news organizations and provide more employment opportunities for journalists.
3. ⚖️ Despite widespread support, there are still skeptics who worry that the funding is inadequate to address the industry crisis.