Facebook is one of the biggest social media platforms online, which ranked 2nd to YouTube back in Q3, 2019. The company has been making some changes to its platform recently, one of which involves adding a dedicated news section to the Facebook app. The social media giant has now confirmed that the feature, previously launched in the US, will soon be launched in the UK as well.
Facebook News headed to the UK
Facebook’s UK users will get to experience the Facebook News option starting in January 2021. The tech company will also be paying publishers to host their content that’s not already on the platform. Certain details of this opportunity such as, how much do the publishers stand to make, are yet to be revealed. With the new addition, Facebook also aims to increase the reach of publishers, old and new, to new audiences, bring more advertising and subscription opportunities.
Some publishers have already signed up for Facebook News. These include Archant, Conde Nast, The Economist, ESI Media, Guardian Media Group, Hearst, Iliffe, JPI Media, Midland News Association, Reach, STV and others. These publishers host numerous well-known news brands such as The Economist, The Guardian, Liverpool Echo, and more. Additionally, content from lifestyle brands such as Red, Harpers, Cosmopolitan, Wired, GQ, Glamour, Vogue and Tatler will also be hosted on the platform. Facebook expects more publishers to join in on the venture ahead of launch.
Extension of UK Community News Project
From the past two years, Facebook has been driving the UK Community News Project. Under this project, the company says it trained 80 journalists across the UK and invested €4.86M in the Community News Project (CNP). It will continue the project for another year with the CNP and invest an additional €2.49M to support local journalism. This project is aimed at supporting and promoting local journalism.
One year extension for the project could result in over half of the existing National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) cohort receiving an additional year of training. These trainees came in to study for the Diploma in Journalism and will work towards the senior-level National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ). Facebook also says that “dozens of new reporters” will be recruited to train in some of the UK’s leading newsrooms as they study for NCTJ qualifications.
Image credits: Facebook
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