Govt Advocates for Fair Compensation to Bridge Financial Divide Between Traditional and Digital Media

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday highlighted the growing financial disparity between traditional and digital media, stressing the need for fair compensation to support conventional media outlets. Speaking on National Press Day, Vaishnaw pointed to the ongoing shift in news consumption patterns, with a significant move from traditional to digital platforms, which has left traditional media facing financial challenges.

Vaishnaw emphasized that while digital platforms benefit from powerful financial and bargaining advantages, traditional media—despite its significant investments in building teams, training journalists, and maintaining editorial integrity—struggles to compete in the current landscape. “Traditional media has been investing in creating content with high editorial standards and taking responsibility for it, but they are losing out financially as advertising dollars shift to digital platforms,” he said.

The Minister also noted that the imbalance between the content creators (such as traditional media) and digital platforms, which often wield disproportionate power, needs to be addressed. “There is an unequal edge when it comes to bargaining power between conventional media and digital platforms, and this issue must be redressed,” Vaishnaw stated.

His remarks underscore a global concern about the future of traditional media, which has seen dwindling revenues as advertisers flock to digital platforms. This ongoing shift is being felt worldwide, with media outlets struggling to remain financially viable despite their long-standing investments in high-quality journalism.

The issue of fair compensation for content creators on digital platforms has sparked a global debate, as many traditional media outlets struggle to adapt to the changing dynamics of the news industry. Vaishnaw’s comments highlight the need for a more equitable framework to ensure the survival and growth of conventional media in the digital age.