Introduction to the News Media Bargaining Code
The News Media Bargaining Code is a significant regulatory framework established by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) aimed at ensuring fair negotiations between news media businesses and digital platforms like Google and Facebook. This code addresses the imbalance in bargaining power and aims to provide a fairer revenue-sharing model for news content.
Key Features:
- Fair Negotiation: The code mandates that digital platforms negotiate with news media businesses to ensure fair compensation for news content.
- Transparency: It requires platforms to disclose information about their algorithms and how they rank news content, promoting transparency in the digital news ecosystem.
- Dispute Resolution: The code includes provisions for resolving disputes between news media businesses and digital platforms, ensuring that negotiations are conducted in good faith.
Use Cases:
- For News Organizations: This code empowers news organizations to negotiate better terms for their content, potentially increasing their revenue.
- For Digital Platforms: Platforms must adapt their business models to comply with the code, which may involve changes in how they display and monetize news content.
- For Consumers: Ultimately, the code aims to enhance the quality and diversity of news available to consumers by supporting the sustainability of news organizations.

