New Delhi: The Digipub platform has asked the Union information and broadcasting ministry for a meeting where the two parties could discuss the establishment of a “level playing field among digital news players,” it announced on its X account.
Digipub, which intends to “help ensure the creation of a healthy and robust news ecosystem for the digital age” and of which The Wire is a founding member, wrote to the ministry requesting a meeting that would be similar to an inter-ministerial meeting it convened last month following a representation by the Digital News Publishers’ Association.
The meeting came not long after the government invited comments on its draft Digital Competition Bill that seeks to tackle anti-competitive practices among large tech firms.
According to the Hindustan Times, which cited sources familiar with the matter, the meeting took place on June 12 and was inconclusive on whether a legal framework was required to address bargaining imbalances between Big Tech firms and digital news publishers.
The government accepted comments and suggestions on the draft Bill until May 15.
In its letter to the ministry dated June 19, Digipub said it was “currently the largest and [most] diverse coalition of news publishers in India” and that it was hence in a position to add value to conversations “regarding the digital news ecosystem” with regard to incoming legislation.
Its letter is reproduced below.
§
To,
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw,
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Shastri Bhawan
New Delhi-110001
19 June 2024
Subject: Request for meeting with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Dear Sir,
Congratulations on being appointed the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting. In today’s information age, it is one of the most challenging and important areas to negotiate. We look forward to your tenure and a term of cooperative solution-seeking.
DIGIPUB, a consortium of digital media organisations, has followed the developments regarding the interministerial meeting held on June 12 in response to the Digital News Publishers Association’s (DNPA) representation.
The meeting this past Wednesday discussed a legal framework to address the imbalance of bargaining power, unfair competition and sharing of advertising revenue between technology companies/intermediaries and Indian digital news publishers, all of which affect our members.
We at DIGIPUB request a similar meeting with your office to discuss establishing a level playing field among digital news players.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation, with over 90 members from across India, represents digital news media entities, media commentators, and journalists. We aim to foster a healthy and robust news ecosystem that amplifies digital media’s distinct interests while upholding integrity in journalism and opposes the spread of fake news and online abuse.
Furthermore, DIGIPUB is currently the largest and the most diverse coalition of digital news publishers in India, and our presence could add perspectives and value to any conversation regarding the digital news ecosystem by incoming legislation.
Since DIGIPUB represents the interests of all stakeholders of this digital ecosystem, we request a meeting with you to greet you and discuss our suggestions regarding the growth and promotion of a transparent digital news system.
Please let us know a convenient time for the meeting, and we will ensure our representatives are available to participate. Thank you for considering our request, and we look forward to engaging in productive discussions.
Sincerely,
Dhanya Rajendran
Chairperson
Abhinandan Sekhri
General Secretary
Ritu Kapur
General Secretary
DIGIPUB News India Foundation
executive@digipubindia.in
