Communities disconnected as dozens of Christian Media Facebook Pages shut down.
Facebook’s decision to block the sharing of news content on its platform has significantly impacted dozens of Christian media organisations, whose Facebook pages have now been shut down.
Christian Media and Arts Australia (CMAA) is calling for Facebook’s ban to be removed, and for the company to immediately enter into good faith negotiations with the news media and Federal Government.
CMAA is also reaching out to senior Facebook executives to alert them to the fact that Christian media are not set to benefit from the federal government’s Mandatory News Media Bargaining Code, yet ironically, have been caught up in Facebook’s unwarranted ban.
CMAA supports the Mandatory Code, but (with others in community media) believes community stations that generate news content should be included.
As a member of the Community Broadcasting Roundtable, CMAA is working with others to seek Government reform that fairly treats and invests in diverse creators of public interest journalism, including smaller media organisations and community broadcasters.
CMAA members are all ‘for purpose’ (not-for-profit) organisations that play an important community role in our cities, regional, rural and remote communities.
Christian media is deeply embedded within local communities and committed to serving their needs and the public interest with unique content not available elsewhere.
With other media, Christian media has been significantly disrupted by the emergence of global social media and digital technology companies. It has, however, sought to engage with audiences through these new platforms.
In taking action to block the pages of media organisations Facebook has effectively broken the very thing it relies on -- deep local connections.
CMAA believes the public interest is served when traditional media and social media work together in a fair manner.
By its actions today however Facebook invites the conclusion that when challenged, monopoly power will act first in its own interests rather than for the broader public good.
Christian media organisations work hard to engage with their audiences and use Facebook as one of several means to do so. This in turn has delivered engaged audiences to Facebook, from which the tech giant itself benefits.
CMAA is also urging Facebook to ensure media organisations that do not create, or share news on their Facebook pages, not to be unfairly treated or caught up in further action in relation to this matter.
CONTACT:
Nathan Brown, CEO.
Email: ceo@mediaarts.org.au
Christian Media and Arts Australia (CMAA) is the peak body and national representative for Australia’s large and diverse Christian media and arts sector. Our sector is made up of Christian content makers, communicators and broadcasters, including thousands of creatives and curators, as well as community-licensed broadcasters, open narrowcast networks and screen media organisations reaching millions of people across Australia.
CMAA’s 79 member organisations reach in excess of 5 million Australians and are engaged across multiple media platforms including community and open narrowcast, AM, FM and DAB+ radio, streaming services, podcasting, subscription television, digital screen media, printed publications and product distribution, promotion and advancement of the creative and performing arts, aid and development and community service.
These services significantly contribute to media diversity and independence in Australia
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