Blockchains are often spoken about as the solution to problems in nearly every industry. There is something alluring about a technology that seems easy to set up, does not require a leader or central controller, and which can store anything permanently. But would it work for the news media? This new report by WAN-IFRA published with the support of its Global Alliance for Media Innovation highlights many of the main areas where blockchain stands in news publishing and where it might be heading.
"The promises of blockchain are seriously challenging industries based on intermediation, trusted third-party distribution, and transactional models. For news professionals, this means that the radically disruptive nature of blockchains needs a serious exploration of challenges, implications and opportunities. We hope this report will help our members and partners to better distinguish between the hype - reminiscent of the Internet bubble - and the true potential" said Vincent Peyregne, CEO WAN-IFRA.
There appears to be widespread agreement that blockchain is well-suited to intellectual property protection. The key is the technology’s capability to indisputably record and display the origin and time of publication – and any republication – of any kind of content. In news publishing, the Associated Press is working with Civil to develop a means of tracking all transactions and allow the AP to enforce its licensing rights. Startups such as Katalysis are using blockchain to help publishers ensure they are compensated for republication of their content. Both cases are featured in the report.
Similarly, the accountability and transparency of publishing via blockchain are seen as powerful tools in the campaign to re-establish trust with readers, especially against the background of the garbage masquerading as news content that has overrun the web.
Blockchain is also seen as having potential to help publishers materialise their plan to implement micropayments solutions. In fact, “tokenisation” – the (nearly) friction-free exchange of value enabled by blockchain – means news consumers can, in theory, earn credit by contributing anything from constructive comments to fact-checking to viewing ad content.
Many blockchain-based publishing platforms aim to enable individual content creators and freelancers to profit from their creative efforts. This disintermediation is a development that established publishers might want to keep their eyes on.
What about advertising?
The second part of the report describes some of the implications of blockchain in the advertising business, especially classified and programmatic. Taken to its logical conclusion, blockchain’s emphasis on accountability means more than indelibly attaching the name of a person to a piece of online content; it can mean establishing the identity of that person beyond doubt. The implications are far-reaching.
Blockchain can be used to restore trust to the often-rocky relationship among advertisers, publishers, and users, contend Guillaume Vasse of Sud Ouest newspaper in France and Christophe Camborde of its technology partner, inBlocks. Their starting point is storing users’ consent agreements under GDPR, which they see as a springboard to larger projects.
Case studies in the report include Civil, Sludge, Publiq, Katalysis, and inBlocks/Sud Ouest. The report also includes some advice from a blockchain publishing expert on how to get started.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
WAN-IFRA members: Employees of WAN-IFRA member organisations can download the report free of charge as a membership benefit at the following link: WAN-IFRA_Blockchain_report.pdf
Non-members can purchase the report by using the following link . Not yet a member? Learn more about WAN-IFRA membership .
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ABOUT THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR MEDIA INNOVATION GAMI, the Global Alliance for Media Innovation, is a global resource center for WAN-IFRA members to embrace transformation, drive innovation, maximize success, and quickly advance the best talents and innovations to the market. The Global Alliance for Media Innovation connects news professionals, technologists and entrepreneurs in digital media, with bright new talents in universities and media innovation centers worldwide. GAMI supports international applied Research & Innovation programmes, and coordinates the publication of reports on trends and best practices across its network of partners. www.media-innovation.news
ABOUT WAN-IFRA WAN-IFRA is the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. WAN-IFRA provides its members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. With formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, it derives its authority from its global network of leading news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 80 national association members representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. www.wan-ifra.org
