Some context: the Google News Initiative is Google's "effort to work w the news industry to help journalism thrive in the digital age." The unspoken idea here is that having (accidentally?) destroyed the news business, Google will now help rebuild it, w products & partnerships

Right now at the event, Google is leading a convo w the head of CBC News, the EIC of the Toronto Star and a Globe & Mail editor. They're discussing how they will work together to "support quality information".



It's a secret conversation.

What can I say about this? 1st (& obvsly) "off the record" must be negotiated and consented to. There was no mention in the invite or at registration. Being told while sitting in the audience that everything you're about to hear is a secret? Not terribly news literate of Google.

Second, I totally accept that this was an honest mistake. I'm sure that gag-orders are the norm over at Google HQ. I'm not looking to humiliate or heap scorn on the nice Google person who invited me (he sure didn't have to do so, a decision he may now regret!). But, my dudes!

Wider takeaway #1: Google's secrecy is not an aberration, it is sadly the norm. The conversation about how we are going to rebuild & sustain news in Canada has been largely held behind closed doors between gov't, FB, Google, legacy news orgs and think tanks. That needs to stop.

The public must have a seat at the table.



Every one of the news orgs in attendance should have had a reporter in there.

Wider takeaway #2: gov't & big tech are teaming up on w (i.e. paying) legacy news orgs in a myriad of projects to "support quality information" witch-hunt for "fake news" teach "media literacy" etc. But gov't and big tech are the 2 biggest players news orgs must be scrutinizing!

So, news publishers need to think a bit harder about getting in bed with these interests.



Ok, that's it, this is why nobody has me over much I guess.

addendum: an email to me from Google sent shortly after my diva exit tells me they have since shifted things to Chatham House Rules (you can report on the event without using names). Appreciate this, Google, but same principle - can't do it!

You can follow @JesseBrown.

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