• by Ray Schultz , Yesterday

The Oregon Journalism Protection Act (S.B. 686), which would have forced technology giants to compensate newsrooms for using their content, was defeated in the state Senate by a vote of 15-14 just as the legislative session was ending.   

Presumably, this means that Meta will not be cutting off news in the state, as it had threatened to do. 

Sen. Khanh Phm (D-Portland), who introduced the bill, hopes to reintroduce it, she told the Capital Chronicle.

Despite its popularity with publishers, the measure had critics, some of whom feared a news cutoff by Meta. Others felt it would unfairly enrich large, out-of-state companies like Gannett.  

Mike Rispoli, senior director of journalism and civic information for Free Press Action, argues that “this legally questionable bill would prioritize large, conglomerate-owned companies over the information needs of Oregonians and the interests of independent local-media outlets focused on serving their communities.”

Free Press Action and other observers contend that similar legislation in Canada prompted Meta to block all news links, cutting off a source of traffic and revenue for smaller independent publishers.  

“Does anybody honestly believe these companies are going to just write the check and keep doing business as usual here,” Sen. Mark Meek (D-Gladstone) asked, the Capital Chronicle reports. “No, they will stop sharing news content in Oregon all together, just like they did in Canada.”

However, the bill was supported by the News/Media Alliance.  

“Local news serves a vital role in communities all over Oregon, providing critical information, connectivity, and avenues for civic engagement in areas with no other options,” said Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance, earlier this year.  

Coffey added:  “The Oregon Journalism Protection Act would be an important boost in their ability to stay afloat, and provide Oregon communities with the information and local coverage that they deserve.”