On 15 August 2018, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is hosting a forum in Sydney for working and former journalists to share their views on: “How digital platforms (like Facebook, Google, Apple and Twitter among others) are impacting journalism in Australia”.

MEAA Media section members are invited to attend this event to be chaired by ACCC chair Rod Sims.

Date: Wednesday August 15

Time: 6–8pm

Venue: Aerial UTS Function Centre, UTS Building 10, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo.

You must register to attend. Further information including forum details and how to attend is available here.

The forum is part of the ACCC’s ongoing Digital Platforms inquiry, which is examining the impact of digital platforms on the supply of news and journalistic content and the implications of this for media content creators, advertisers and consumers.

Specifically, the ACCC is keen to hear from journalists about:

• the impacts (positive and negative) that digital platforms are having on journalists and journalism in Australia?
• the advantages and disadvantages for journalists using digital platforms to publish or distribute their content?
• the impact (positive and negative) that digital platforms are having on the choice and quality of news for consumers?
• what changes, if any, you would like to see in relation to the interaction between digital platforms and journalism?
• the initiatives or measures that government (or others) could consider to support the provision of quality journalism in Australia?
• the future of journalism in Australia in a digital marketplace?

There is a significant amount of interest in these issues and the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry among the media industry. This forum is an important opportunity for people in the industry to discuss their opinions with ACCC representatives and colleagues.

For journalists unable to attend the forum but who would still like to have their say on these important issues, the ACCC has set up a hub online where journalists can share their views: www.accc.gov.au/digitalinquiry.