Media Groups Ask Facebook to Exempt Journalists From Ad Policies

Facebook’s new advertising policies will “undermine journalism and its role as the fourth estate and legitimize anti-journalism narratives around the world,” said seven media publisher groups Monday (see 1805180058). They asked Facebook to exempt news organizations from the new policy for labeling and archiving political advertising. The American Society of News Editors, News Media Alliance, Society of Professional Journalists and others asked that "all of our advertising is treated as general advertising and is not placed into the political category by the mere fact that it mentions politics or issues." The platform is “working to treat advertised news content differently in the archive, which addresses our news partners’ fundamental concern," responded Head-Global News Partnerships Campbell Brown. "An exemption or whitelist would directly negate the new levels of transparency we’re trying to achieve.”