Facebook includes Breitbart in new 'high quality' news tab

[KelleyKramer]

Good grief, they may as well get Alex Jones and David Duke while they are at it ....


Facebook includes Breitbart in new 'high quality' news tab

The social media site has received backlash over its choice to include a publication that has been called ‘the platform for the alt-right’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/25/facebook-breitbart-news-tab-alt-right


Facebook’s launch of a new section on its flagship app dedicated to “deeply-reported and well-sourced” journalism sparked immediate controversy on Friday over the inclusion of Breitbart News, a publication whose former executive chairman explicitly embraced the “alt-right”. Facebook News is a separate section of the company’s mobile app that will feature articles from about 200 publishers. Friday’s launch is a test and will only be visible to some users in the US.

The initiative is designed to quell criticism on two fronts: by promoting higher quality journalism over misinformation and by appeasing news publishers who have long complained that Facebook profits from journalism without paying for it. The company will pay some publishers between $1m and $3m each year to feature their articles, according to Bloomberg. Participating publications include the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed, Bloomberg and ABC News, as well as local newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and Dallas Morning News.

Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, paid tribute to the importance of “high quality” journalism in an op-ed published in the New York Times, which referenced “how the news has held Facebook accountable when we’ve made mistakes”. Zuckerberg also alluded to the power that Facebook will have to influence the media, stating: “If a publisher posts misinformation, it will no longer appear in the product.”

The op-ed does not reference the inclusion of Breitbart News, but the outlet is notorious for its role in promoting extreme rightwing narratives and conspiracy theories. Thousands of major advertisers have blacklisted the site over its extreme views.


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[Beryllinthranox]

1. Who reads that shit? Their ratings are in the toilet.

[PSPS]

2. Ratings?

[Beryllinthranox]

4. I know, right?

[PSPS]

6. What "ratings" are you talking about?

[Beryllinthranox]

12. Right here.

[link:https://www.thewrap.com/breitbart-news-audience-dropped-steve-bannon-72-percent/|

[PSPS]

14. Oh, I see. You meant "traffic." Thanks.

One can only expect its traffic to go up with zuckerberg promoting it as legitimate. This should increase the flow of rubles into his wallet.

[dalton99a]

3. Deeply reported and well sourced journalism:

[stopdiggin]

5. this is Zucky through and through

the idea that he might CARE bout disseminating quality news .. is a flat joke!

[CozyMystery]

10. He is a sociopath, IMO. nt

[Coventina]

7. Cue the FB defenders in three....two.....one....

[Initech]

8. And that's why I am not reactivating my Facebook account.

Fuck Breitbart.

[RockRaven]

9. There is no excuse to be on FB whilst claiming you're not enabling the destruction of our society.

They are a malicious actor. Wake up everyone.

[Talitha]

11. Is that little zucker a russian agent too?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. Who's this Bart?

And what makes him so bright?

Giving credit where credit is due it was Corey Booker who first said that.