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The Illinois Local Journalism Task Force was formed last year to
investigate how to address a decline in the number of outlets
and journalists covering local news. A report produced several
recommendations.
One promoted by state Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, would
create a framework to have big tech companies compensate local
outlets when someone shares their content.
“Creating a compensation structure based on the number of news
journalists rather than clicks or content displays, this steers
more funds to in-state publications,” Stadelman said during a
Senate committee Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said his
opinion is the measure will backfire.
“I would think the logical result of legislation like this would
be Facebook simply turning off news links in Illinois,” he said.
Curran said such a move would mean fewer news stories getting
out to Illinoisans.
“This is more likely to lead to less readership, less access,
less traffic on the websites of these news publishers,” he said.
In Canada, where a similar law was approved last year, Meta
began blocking news links rather than paying local news outlets.
Stadelman was skeptical that would be the outcome in Illinois.
“I find that hard to believe,” Stadelman said. “It’s a mutually
beneficial relationship. The problem is the compensation does
not flow back to the local newsrooms and publishers.”
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