In its Sustainability of local journalism Report, published on 25th January, the Committee stated it is “glad that the Government appears to be expediting the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill”.

The Digital Markets Unit aims to rebalance the relationship between big tech platforms and publishers by targeting the root cause of platforms’ market power. In its recommendations, the Committee argued that “clear and explicit provisions for ensuring smaller publishers are fairly renumerated [for use of their content] be included in the Government’s new pro-competition regime”.

In evidence submitted to the Committee, the PPA had argued: “The Government should anticipate the need to develop additional measures that support smaller, but eligible, media businesses […] The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) and the DMU could also authorise smaller media businesses to engage in collective bargaining under existing competition law before introducing any legislation”.

The PPA’s evidence also highlighted that any further delays to legislation will negatively impact publishers’ sustainability. The Committee recognised this challenge, noting: “the […] Professional Publishers’ Association highlighted that, in the interim, news publishers would continue to face the difficulties of operating in an unfair market”. The PPA argued to the Committee that large platforms should compensate publishers of special interest news, not only local and national newspapers.

Evidence presented by the PPA on the impact of rising energy costs was also cited in the Report, with the Committee noting that “recent inflation-driven increases in newsprint costs – as much as 100% for some publishers” have only added to the imperative to rapidly transform business models in the digital age.

The PPA will continue to engage with the Committee and its work on ensuring the sustainability of UK media businesses.