KABO RAMASIA
This is the second article of a series of a catalogue of upcoming analyses which will explore the need for new funding models in media, digital disruption, ethical journalism in elections coverage, the proliferation of fake news and all issues thereto.
After what was a widely received piece which instigated debate on media funding in earnest it is now safe to say that the global media business is at a crossroads. What happens now will determine whether journalism as a business survives this torrid period or goes into oblivion.
The question of whether governments should fund journalism as a ‘public good’ is thus handy. Despite its relevance, it gives rise to several questions. Rightly so because who in their right state of mind thinks of such? Will it not amount to diminished critical voices? Does it not interfere with editorial independence? Will governments not monopolize narratives and capture news media?
Naturally, those are the questions arising out of curiosity. Nonetheless, today I want to thoroughly break it down for the comfort of everyone who may be at pains with this analogy but interested in following this discussion.
Allow me to preface my remarks by making an assurance that a lot of literature exists on this subject matter, especially in the Western World where it has been explored to the latter. Media scholars and public policy experts attest to the effect that there are governments which have historically funded journalism.
According to a Global Forum For Media Development policy brief authored by Anya Schiffrin and Brigitte Alfter amidst journalism’s difficult times, a rise in the global need to fund journalism by government and other business models is noted.
“Some countries, including those in Northern Europe and the European Union, have been using these journalism funds for years, while others are just starting to consider how to set them up,” they argued.
Case studies
The brief further contended that many funds exist to address the “structural” challenges incurred by the media business. Schiffrin & Alfter favoured a government-supported media fund to safeguard democracy.
In a nutshell, the logic behind their argument shared by several other researchers hinges upon that government-aided journalism will help improve quality, and address inadequate coverage of issues and a general shortage of news in instances where news media falls short of resources.
Further, it notes that Nordic countries (Nothern Europe and North Atlantic) long adopted direct subsidies. For instance, Denmark has the mediestotte fund which is awarded through the national budget, Netherlands funding of media dates back to the 1970s, and pilots projects in Northern Europe were made around 2010, argued the scholars.
However, not only has European countries leaned toward such a model to fund journalism, Sierra Leone called for government investment in media. Additionally, there are some states in America which have adopted such in support of journalism.
Media capture?
Although quite a legitimate concern- the question of media capture comes to mind albeit falling squarely based on pedestrian rationale.
In contrast to grants and funds, those who argue to the contrary deem this a case of newsrooms turning into propaganda machines whereas those in favour maintain their posture. Isn’t state funding just a philosophical question?
In the case of well-established commissions or agencies set out to administer the funds or grants following set standards, there could be no element of fear for reprisals.
For starters, the very thought of allowing journalism to die will be an indictment of democracy. I put it to you that journalism as a business is not just a concern of media owners. It’s a thing of interest to society.
Mostly, public interest-driven journalism is felt by governments. In this regard, part of funding liberal democracies should entail the media as a cornerstone of a democracy. To this end, political party funding serves as another pertinent example of how to save shrinking democracies across the world.
Does it then follow that the Opposition in Parliament will become praise poets of the ruling party on the basis that they are funded to campaign? I bet not! It would be a terrible misconception.
Funding alternatives
At the moment, the reality is that media revenues have plunged, people expect free news and the media is still expected to play its role in liberal democracies.
Save for government-funded journalism here are other options that have been explored although bearing different results across the globe.
In their editorial published by the Media and Communication journal, Myllylahti & Meese (2024) argue that although news media tried to build sustainable business models there hasn’t been a major leap forward.
Titled: “New Funding Models in Journalism Are Emerging, but Major Leap Forward Is Lacking” the authors concede that “digital reader revenue has become a prominent source of income for many publishers, but the bulk of them continue to rely on advertising and print subscriptions for money. Recently, Google and Facebook have become major funders of news and innovation in journalism. Some governments have also launched specific support programs.”
The editorial posits that several funding models are being experimented with by newsrooms some of which include; affiliate marketing (whereby news organisations market products on behalf of companies using their platforms to target particular audiences) and platform funding (whereby publishers derive revenue from Google and Facebook).
Above this, other alternatives are paywall and subscriptions which have all but proved to be a case of trial and error in funding the 21st century journalism.
Consequently, this article is therefore a wake-up call to both the media fraternity and governments to wake up and smell the coffee. In the case of Africa, it will require a paradigm shift in the way media has been perceived in society and its funding.
Despite that the media serves as a watchdog of society and investigates wrongdoing by those who hold power; it is equally an economic sector at a crisis level. The media may never perform to its optimal state ever again. Indeed tragedy has struck.
Worth saying is that journalism requires reinventing itself at least it perishes. The global discussion on media funding paints a gloomy picture of a noble profession on the verge of being extinct.
Will it do any good to societies which think the media business has nothing to do with taxpayer’s money? Is it not worthy of being financed through taxes? What good will it serve society if newsrooms would go defunct? Whose loss would it be? Certainly, these are complex to answer.
Botswana just like the rest of the world must kick-start this conversation and it wouldn’t have come at any better time than now. It’s now or never! Let the debates begin. Once again, I reiterate that this was written with a clear mind.
Kabo Ramasia is a Senior Journalist and Media Scholar, based in Gaborone Botswana.
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