Media Insider: Newsroom Employment Falls, Facebooks Invests in Content, Google Fined in France

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s roundup of media news stories from the week.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER | MASON WALKER
U.S. Newsroom Employment Has Fallen 26% Since 2008

Newsroom employment in the United States has dropped by 26% since 2008. But while newspapers have seen steep job losses during that span, digital-native news organizations have seen considerable gains, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2008, there were about 114,000 total newsroom employees – reporters, editors, photographers, and videographers – in five industries that produce news: newspaper, radio, broadcast television, cable, and “other information services” (the best match for digital news publishers). By 2020, that number had declined to about 85,000, a loss of about 30,000 jobs.

ICYMI: G/O Media, owner of Deadspin and The Onion, faces new staff woes and a discrimination suit.

THEWRAP | LINDSEY ELLEFSON
Vox, Politico Journalists Launch New DC Media Company With $10 Million, UAE Backing

Laura McGann, former politics editor at Vox.com and Politico, and Mark Bauman, a veteran of Smithsonian, National Geographic, and ABC News, are launching a new media venture with a $10 million backing from two companies. One is International Media Investments, a UAE-based investment fund; the other is a U.S.-based individual who was not named. The outlet is set to launch in September and will be funded by advertising and sponsorships of its editorial and live events. There is a plan in place to launch a consulting line down the road.

Coming soon: The Observer, which plans to relaunch in the next few months with a new editor-in-chief.

AXIOS | SARA FISCHER
Facebook to Invest Over $1 Billion in Content Creators Through End of 2022

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook and Instagram plan to together invest over $1 billion in creators through the end of 2022. This is by far Facebook’s biggest investment in attracting creators to its platform to date. Facebook has slowly begun to roll out products and policies that favor creators, including revenue shares for ads sold against IGTV video content and “stars,” which are akin to tips for creators from fans. It’s said in the past it would not take a cut of any creator revenue until 2023. Facebook will roll out specific bonus programs for users who post content on Instagram’s “Reels” platform, a feature like TikTok, as well as bonuses for other content efforts. Come this fall, bonus programs will be available to users creating in-stream videos on Facebook.

Also from Axios: Outside acquires two new titles, Pinkbike and Cycling Tips, and trail mapping app Trailforks.

ASSOCIATED PRESS | ANGELA CHARLTON AND KELVIN CHAN
Google Fined $592 Million in Dispute With French Publishers

France’s competition regulator fined Google 500 million euros ($592 million) for failing to negotiate in good faith with French publishers in a dispute over payments for their news. The agency threatened fines of another 900,000 euros (around $1 million) per day if Google doesn’t come up with proposals within two months on how it will compensate publishers and news agencies for their content. Google France said in a statement that it was “very disappointed” by the decision and is on the verge of reaching an agreement with some publishers.

Read next: Twitter shuts down Fleets, its expiring tweets feature.

POYNTER | ANGELA FU
Not Just a Wave But a Movement: Journalists Unionize at Record Numbers

In the past decade, workers at news publications have launched more than 200 union drives and over 90% of them have been successful. Media outlets have called it a “wave,” but it’s more than that — and it has reached all areas of journalism. Union leaders at newspapers, digital outlets, and broadcast stations are seeing record levels of organizing that show little sign of stopping. Last year saw at least 37 union drives where journalists asked formally for union representation; all of them were successful. Workers this year have already organized at least 29 union drives in the first six months of 2021.

The New York Times is facing a contentious summer of labor battles. 

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Maria Perez is director of web operations at Cision. In her spare time, she enjoys kickboxing, baking, and cuddling with her dog Toody.