Axel Springer has already rolled out the red carpet for the Facebook boss several times. Hardly any other European publisher has been so close to the social media platform in recent years. Equal the first Axel Springer Award went to Mark Zuckerberg in 2016, for example. And in 2019, Springer boss Mathias Döpfner discussed for over an hour in one much discussed interview with “Zuck” about platforms, journalism and Facebook’s plans for journalistic content, which then became reality. It is therefore no great surprise that some wires between the Americans and the Germans have been glowing in the background over the past few years.
Now it remains to be seen whether that new agreements will actually be a strategic milestone “for the entire industry”, as Mathias Döpfner described it. Basically, an end to the resistance of publishers to US corporations and a stronger willingness to cooperate on the part of the major platforms has been overdue for years. The Springer-Facebook deal could actually be the starting signal for a clearer approach. The SWMH has also recently been on board with Facebook News. It is certainly understandable that Döpfner initially represents his own interests. Now, as the BDZV President, the industry expects him to take further steps that are not just related to Axel Springer. (ie)
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