100 million dollars: this is what has been put on the plate by Facebook to support information workers in the context of the coronavirus emergency.
Even Facebook is among the organizations involved in the fight against coronavirus. The new initiative announced today by the social network is the one that aims to financially support the activity of journalists so that they can continue to guarantee access to quality information despite the difficult moment.
The publishing industry is working under extraordinary conditions to keep people informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when journalism is more essential than ever, advertising earnings are decreasing due to the economic impact of the virus. This is mainly affected by local editorial offices.
Coronavirus: FB to support information
With a total investment of $ 100 million, the Menlo Park group plans to support those who work in the publishing industry globally. More specifically, 25 million dollars are earmarked for local newsrooms through the Journalism Project announced in early 2017, while the remaining 75 million dollars are offered in the form of vouchers for access to marketing and advertising campaigns: in other to promote the activity of a site or a warhead on the platform.
This initiative follows the one announced last week and aimed at companies located exclusively in the United States and Canada. This time access to the funds is open to everyone, regardless of the country of origin. They will serve to mitigate at least in part the losses due to a decline in advertising profits that some analysts predict will touch several percentage points within the year.
Facebook’s move also aims to support quality journalism in a period in which the misinformation that circulates on the coronavirus theme risks throwing gasoline on the fire, fueling psychosis and alarms of which in such a delicate moment there just isn’t need.
