KUALA LUMPUR: A revenue-sharing formula with local media companies will be among possible solutions to be discussed with some tech giants, says the Deputy Communications and Digital Minister.
Teo Nie Ching said the ministry would be in talks to discuss the formula to channel advertising revenue back to local media companies.
She added that advertising revenue by most media companies has dwindled as much of it has been taken over by tech giants such as Google.
“It is the ministry’s intention to start engaging with tech giants so that we can emulate other countries – with a formula – whereby advertising revenue can be channelled back to Malaysian media companies,” she said in response to a supplementary question by Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
Mumtaz had asked about the government’s efforts to assist some media houses that are facing financial issues.
In 2020, local newspaper publishers through the Malaysian Newspaper Publishers Association (MNPA) urged international tech companies Google and Facebook to share advertising revenue with publishers.
This came following the move by the Australian government which successfully required tech giants to compensate media outlets for news content on their platforms through advertising revenue sharing.
Indonesian media players followed suit in 2021, urging tech giants to pay local media outlets and publishers for linking to their content on the tech companies’ news feeds or search results.
In a reply to a separate question, Teo said a grievance mechanism will be included in the proposed Media Council Bill to empower media agencies to self-regulate.
She said under the Bill, members of the public who are dissatisfied with any news content could file a complaint with the council.
“The goal to establish a Media Council was to ensure media practitioners can self-regulate.
“Under the proposed Bill, we do have a grievance mechanism where people can lodge a complaint with the council if they’re not happy with any news report.
“The council, under a committee, will scrutinise the complaints and come out with findings on whether it agrees that the content was ethical or not.
“We hope through the Media Council, we can produce more responsible media practitioners,” she told Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang).
Wong had asked the ministry to state the status of the creation of the Malaysian Media Council.
Teo said the ministry hopes to table the Bill by next March after approval from the Cabinet and Attorney General’s Chambers.
She added that a series of engagements between the government and stakeholders comprising media practitioners have been carried out to iron out remaining issues.
