Public Policy Posts https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/category/advocacy/ Thu, 08 Feb 2024 20:45:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 FTC to Hold Hearing on Proposed Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/ftc-to-hold-hearing-on-proposed-rule-banning-fake-reviews-and-testimonials/ Thu, 08 Feb 2024 20:45:40 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14609 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will hold an informal hearing on its proposed rule banning fake reviews and testimonials on February 13 at 10 am ET.

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]]> The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will hold an informal hearing on its proposed rule banning fake reviews and testimonials on February 13 at 10 am ET. Three interested parties including the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Fake Review Watch, and a group of academic researchers will address issues raised during the rulemaking process. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2023, advises marketers to stop using illicit review and endorsement practices, such as generating fake reviews, creating false celebrity testimonials, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews, which the FTC believes deceives consumers. The proposed rule received over 100 comments. Given the rule’s focus on prohibitions on deceptive activities that take place on third-party platforms, the Alliance did not submit comments; however, we continue to monitor the proposal.

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]]> Alliance Comments on USPS Annual Compliance Report https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-comments-on-usps-annual-compliance-report/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:48:44 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14604 The News/Media Alliance submitted comments on the United States Postal Service’s Annual Compliance Report  for Fiscal Year 2023 on January 30.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance submitted comments on the United States Postal Service’s Annual Compliance Report  for Fiscal Year 2023 on January 30. The report emphasizes our concerns on Periodicals mail costs, prices, and service. The USPS cites inflation as a cause of its cost increases; however, inflation in FY 2023 was about 4 percent, while Periodicals costs that exceeded inflation nearly doubled that amount. The report also showed that flats processing concerns have worsened with productivity falling. The Alliance also re-iterated that holding the Postal Service accountable for controlling costs through a mechanism with meaningful consequences is necessary.

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]]> FTC Holds Additional Hearings on Negative Option Rule https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/ftc-holds-additional-hearings-on-negative-option-rule/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:45:25 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14594 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an informal hearing on proposed amendments to the Negative Option Rule regarding subscriptions and recurring payments, including a “click to cancel” provision on January 16.

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]]> The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held an informal hearing on proposed amendments to the Negative Option Rule regarding subscriptions and recurring payments, including a “click to cancel” provision on January 16. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) scheduled an additional hearing on disputed issues of material fact, which was held on January 31. The Alliance joined a stakeholder letter raising concerns. The ALJ scheduled another hearing on February 14. The Alliance will continue to monitor this issue and keep you apprised of developments.

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]]> Alliance CEO Q&A: How The Generative AI Boom Proves We Need Journalism https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-ceo-qa-how-the-generative-ai-boom-proves-we-need-journalism/ https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-ceo-qa-how-the-generative-ai-boom-proves-we-need-journalism/#respond Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:00:45 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14591 An article featuring a Q&A with News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey titled, "How The Generative AI Boom Proves We Need Journalism," ran on January 31, 2024 in AdExchanger, discussing the value of publisher content to AI companies, why news publishers should be compensated for use of their content in training generative AI models, and possible legislative solutions.

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]]> An article featuring a Q&A with News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey titled, “How The Generative AI Boom Proves We Need Journalism,” ran on January 31, 2024 in AdExchanger, discussing the value of publisher content to AI companies, why news publishers should be compensated for use of their content in training generative AI models, and possible legislative solutions. An excerpt from the article is below

How The Generative AI Boom Proves We Need Journalism

Danielle Coffey, CEO and president of the News/Media Alliance, believes journalism and generative AI can play nice.

But first, generative AI companies must get real about the value journalism brings to their products.

“This doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game,” Coffey told AdExchanger. “These innovative technologies are very promising, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of journalism.”

AI companies acknowledge the value of journalism, Coffey said… So, she argued, they should look at working with journalists as part of the cost of doing business – similar to how Netflix or Spotify compensate content creators for their IP.

Click here to read the rest of the Q&A on AdExchanger‘s website.

Related:

News/Media Alliance Artificial Intelligence articles

Alliance CEO Op-Ed: Can AI companies and media publishers work together?

AI White Paper: How the Pervasive Copying of Expressive Works to Train and Fuel Generative Artificial Intelligence Systems Is Copyright Infringement And Not a Fair Use

AI Principles

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]]> https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-ceo-qa-how-the-generative-ai-boom-proves-we-need-journalism/feed/ 0 Congressional Letter Asks for Pause on Postal Increases https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/congressional-letter-asks-for-pause-on-postal-increases/ Fri, 26 Jan 2024 21:09:53 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14578 Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Sam Graves, along with 17 other cosigners, sent a letter to the Postal Board of Governors on January 19 asking the USPS to pause future rate increases.

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]]> Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver and Sam Graves, along with 17 other cosigners, sent a letter to the Postal Board of Governors on January 19 asking the USPS to pause future rate increases. The letter expresses concern on the negative impact the rate increases are having on mail customers. In addition, the letter raises concerns about the service problems many members of Congress have raised with the USPS in the last year. Last September, Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Jake LaTurner sent a letter and the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, of which The Alliance is a member, sent a letter last June. The Alliance continues to raise concerns with the Postal Service, Postal Regulatory Commission, USPS Office of Inspector General and others on these alarming rate increases.

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]]> News/Media Alliance Files Comments, Meets with the Copyright Office on Access to Electronic Works Rulemaking https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/news-media-alliance-files-comments-meets-with-the-copyright-office-on-access-to-electronic-works-rulemaking/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:03:11 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14575 On January 9, 2024, the Alliance met with the Copyright Office to discuss the proposed rule and the Alliance members’ experiences with electronic deposits in more detail.

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]]> On Monday, October 16, 2023, the News/Media Alliance submitted reply comments in response to the U.S. Copyright Office’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Access to Electronic Works. The Copyright Office is proposing to update its regulations governing access to electronic deposits of works submitted for copyright registration that the Library of Congress subsequently selects for its collections. The rule would expand the categories of eligible deposits, including group registrations for published photographs and short online literary works, amongst others. The rule would have minimal direct impact on news publishers, since print newspaper deposits sent by via PDF are already subject to the existing rule. The Alliance’s comments asked the Office to prioritize updating the registration options to allow for publishers to efficiently register online material before moving forward with other rulemakings. In addition, the comments noted the importance of not expanding the ways in which these deposits can be accessed by Library users in ways that compete with markets for licensed content, and signaled support for further documentation around the current conditions of access. On January 9, 2024, the Alliance met with the Copyright Office to discuss the proposed rule and the Alliance members’ experiences with electronic deposits in more detail. Read the Alliance’s comments here and the ex parte meeting summary here.

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]]> Alliance CEO Op-Ed: Can AI companies and media publishers work together? https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-ceo-op-ed-can-ai-companies-and-media-publishers-work-together/ https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-ceo-op-ed-can-ai-companies-and-media-publishers-work-together/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2024 14:00:38 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14586 An op-ed by News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey titled, "Can AI companies and media publishers work together?," ran on January 21, 2024 in The Mercury News, discussing the impact to publishers of AI companies' use of publisher content to train their generative AI systems, and possible ways forward.

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]]> An op-ed by News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey titled, “Can AI companies and media publishers work together?,” ran on January 21, 2024 in The Mercury News, discussing the impact to publishers of AI companies’ use of publisher content to train their generative AI systems, and possible ways forward. An excerpt from the op-ed is below:

Opinion: Can AI companies and media publishers work together?

Licensing agreements and permissions would protect the news industry’s work while delivering higher-quality AI content

Generative artificial intelligence has the potential to reshape the digital economy and alter the online experience for millions of consumers. Systems that rely on large language models have already ushered in rapid changes to the news media landscape, and many journalists today are using these tools. But as these technologies become more prevalent, we must develop appropriate guardrails that protect the intellectual property rights of media publishers.

Every day, publishers in print and digital media invest in the creation of high-quality content that is informative, trustworthy and engaging.

Click here to read the rest of the op-ed on The Mercury News‘s website.

Related:

News/Media Alliance Artificial Intelligence articles

AI White Paper: How the Pervasive Copying of Expressive Works to Train and Fuel Generative Artificial Intelligence Systems Is Copyright Infringement And Not a Fair Use

AI Principles

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]]> https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-ceo-op-ed-can-ai-companies-and-media-publishers-work-together/feed/ 0 USPS Market Dominant Price Increases Take Effect on January 21 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/usps-market-dominant-price-increases-take-effect-on-january-21/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:51:48 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14561 As a reminder, the Market Dominant Price Increases go into effect on January 21. View the USPS webinar, "Market Dominant Price Change" to learn more.

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]]> As a reminder, the Market Dominant Price Increases go into effect on January 21. View the USPS webinar, “Market Dominant Price Change” to learn more.

In the PRC order approving the rate hikes, it states “the Commission shares The News/Media Alliance’s concerns about Periodicals’ costs and continues to encourage the Postal Service to take steps to address them.”

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]]> Alliances Files Comments on Rural Carrier Costs https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliances-files-comments-on-rural-carrier-costs/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:41:43 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14559 The News/Media Alliance  submitted comments on the Postal Service’s proposal to change the methodology for calculating rural carrier attributable costs.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance  submitted comments on the Postal Service’s proposal to change the methodology for calculating rural carrier attributable costs. The Alliance supports the use of data from its news Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System, which should reduce Periodicals costs by approximately 1 cent per piece (3 percent).

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]]> Alliance Files Additional Comments on USPS Mail Processing Plan https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/alliance-files-additional-comments-on-usps-mail-processing-plan/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:35:03 +0000 https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/?p=14557 The News/Media Alliance (N/MA) submitted additional comments on the Postal Service’s Flats Plan on January 12 following the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) Order 6803 approving our motion.

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]]> The News/Media Alliance submitted additional comments on the Postal Service’s Flats Plan on January 12 following the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) Order 6803 approving our motion. The PRC identified multiple causes of inefficiencies in the collection, sorting, transportation, and delivery of flats and provided eight recommendations. The USPS plan lacks both details and analytical support needed to evaluate the plan and determine whether it addresses the inefficiencies. The Alliance encouraged the PRC to continue asking probing questions to flesh out implementation details of the plan’s initiatives and to continue evaluating whether the initiatives will have the beneficial impacts claimed by USPS. In addition, the Alliance stated that the Postal Service must be held accountable through additional enforcement.

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