Researchers think the government needs to support the media against large tech companies

Traditional media like television and newspapers are struggling due to the rise of large tech companies behind social media, for example, and the Cabinet has to do something about it, researchers of the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) think. Otherwise, the regulatory function that the media has in democracy will come under pressure, a report reads. The council proposes, among other things, to ensure that reliable information appears higher on social media timelines and in search engine results.

"A democracy functions by the grace of informed citizens," the report reads. They see a "steady displacement" of journalists' work, which is increasingly hard to find and, therefore, reaches fewer people. "This puts pressure on the democratic quality of information provision in the current media system." Especially because a lot of "doubtful quality" information is going around that is not independent or reliable and is lacking in context.

According to the researchers, the "platformization of the public space" is an important cause: the social debate is shifting from rooms, opinion pages, and radio and television studios to social media platforms. These tech companies have "developed a superior advertising model and pulled most of the advertising income towards themselves." Traditional media struggles to get between that. According to the WRR, this development can only be stopped if the government interferes.

The researchers also pointed out the responsibility of politicians and administrators. They believe that they should not only communicate via platforms that do not endorse democratic values. The social medium X receives a lot of criticism in this area but is nevertheless widely used by ministries and politicians.

Local media outlets are especially suffering, said the WRR. In some regions, the regional boards are not or hardly reported on by journalists. This is why the WRR is pleading for more support from the government, including financial support.

Another recommendation is to use the existing European laws more. For example, rules meant to prevent the media sector from being owned by just a few companies.

Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Eppo Bruins will respond to these findings at a later stage.