Ippen Supports Digital Levy on Online Platforms for Journalism Funding
Media group executive Jan Ippen advocates for a digital levy on major online platforms to fund journalism. He sees it as a response to the imbalance between media companies and platforms.
Jan Ippen, head of the Ippen.Media group, has voiced support for a proposed digital levy on large online platforms, arguing it is necessary to support journalism. Ippen stated that such a measure is crucial for countering the financial pressures facing journalistic content online and addressing the perceived imbalance between media houses and powerful tech platforms.
"Journalism is the basis of opinion formation," Ippen told the Berliner Morgenpost. He cited an "obvious market distortion" online that is pressuring this foundation, pointing to disparities in neutrality, objectivity, distribution methods, and revenue sharing. This stance aligns with calls for major online platforms to contribute more significantly to the financing of journalistic work.
Ippen's position echoes similar sentiments expressed by other German media executives, such as Julia Becker of the Funke group, who has also advocated for a levy, describing the digital media market as unfair. The German government, through Minister of State for Media Wolfram Weimer, has been developing plans for such a levy, tentatively scheduled for spring 2025.
Weimer has indicated confidence in passing the legislation this year, possibly as a dedicated fund. The proposal would affect major internet corporations like Google and Meta, drawing parallels to Austria's model where large online platforms pay five percent of their advertising revenue to content creators since 2020. The move reflects a broader European discussion on ensuring the sustainability of journalism in the digital age.