UN cultural agency UNESCO has launched a global consultation process to inform its Draft Guidance on Fair Compensation for News, as online platforms and artificial intelligence increasingly rely on journalistic content without adequately remunerating the outlets that produce it.

The agency said the initiative comes at a time when securing the sustainability of news media is more urgent than ever, in order to protect the future of journalism and safeguard information integrity. The text under consultation outlines a series of disruptions to the media landscape, including decreased funding for public interest journalism and the contraction or closure of local and community news organisations, developments it characterises as evidence of a fundamental and ongoing change in the structure of the information economy.

Few Players, Wide Influence

The document warns that a small number of large multinational digital platforms and AI actors now occupy a central intermediary role between media organisations and the public. These platforms shape how content is discovered, influence the conditions under which journalism reaches audiences, and mediate access to digital advertising markets, in ways that have materially altered the economic conditions in which journalism operates.

UNESCO is seeking feedback from governments, regulatory authorities, media organisations, civil society, academia and other stakeholders through 30 July. Respondents can share their views via an online survey on how the document can be improved to achieve its stated aims of safeguarding freedom of expression, strengthening media viability and supporting the future of independent journalism amid the growing influence of digital platforms and AI actors. Submissions may be made in English, French or Spanish.

Ahead of the deadline, three online regional roundtables will be convened to facilitate dialogue and gather input from stakeholders in Asia Pacific and the Arab States, Africa and Europe, and the Americas and the Caribbean.

Supporting Media Diversity

The draft guidance builds on UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, issued in 2023, which call for supporting media sustainability, diversity and pluralism. It is further informed by the agency’s work on the governance of generative AI, human rights impact assessments, and global principles promoting fair compensation for journalism.

The initiative reinforces UNESCO’s broader efforts to strengthen media independence, sustainability and viability. A final draft of the Guidance is due to be published later this year, alongside a report summarising the key insights and contributions received during the consultation.

Source: UN News, 19 June 2026