Major Australian media company strikes Google news pay deal

CANBERRA: Seven West Media has become the largest Australian news media business to strike a deal with Google to pay for journalism in a partnership announced before the nation’s Parliament considers draft laws to force digital giants to pay for news.
Google and the publicly listed broadcast television, print and online publishing company jointly announced they had agreed on “long-term partnership” after weekend discussions Australian government ministers had with media executives, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet Inc and its subsidiary Google.
Kerry Stokes, chairman of Seven West Media, which owns 21 publications, thanked the government and the Australian competition regulator for their proposal.
“Their outstanding leadership on the implementation of the proposed news media bargaining code has resulted in us being able to conclude negotiations that result in fair payment and ensure our digital future,” Stokes said in a statement.
“The negotiations with Google recognise the value of quality and original journalism throughout the country and, in particular, in regional areas,” Stokes added.