AI companies need the media but with fair pay, says Fozard

O project director of the WAN-IFRA Global Alliance for Media Innovation states in an interview with Lusa that AI companies need the media, but there must be a fair remuneration for the content.

Artificial Intelligence Companies (IA) “are not our enemies, they need us, we know that,” says Stephen Fozard, project director of the Global Alliance for Media Innovation of the World Association of News Editors WAN-IFRA [World Association of News Publishers].

Now, “there must be a fair remuneration. It is not acceptable that they simply collect written material” by journalists, “who are paid to do this work. This is not about free content. It is a product and we sell content”, reinforces the person who was recently in Lisbon on the occasion of the iNOVA Media Lab Fest.

About the project he leads, the global alliance for media innovation, the leader points out that in the network of people with whom he works in innovative projects are AFP, DPA, APA and maybe one day Lusa.

This network is important because, first, it is “a group, a community”.

“ We created a community of people who didn't know each other. If we consider all the people who participated from the first event to the tenth [of the Media Lab Days] — which is today’s — we see that many still keep in touch, talk often and interact regularly,” he says.

In fact, on the morning of the interview, Stephen Fozard met four people he hadn’t seen in five years, but there is “a real relationship”.

Therefore, the feeling of “community is very important”.

Then, “another point that I would highlight is the AI applied to knowledge bases — specifically the generative AI”, which despite the risks, also offers a “immensurate range of opportunities”.

In fact, “I have not seen such a significant revolution since the arrival of the Internet,” admits Stephen Fozard.

In fact, the generative AI “is part of this broader context, but takes things a step further” and the challenge is that it bypasses the news sites.

As advice to the Portuguese media, the director suggests that “don’t try to do it alone”.

Also because “you can learn from other people — including the Portuguese media — who also have an interest in dialogue and collaboration among themselves”.

Another point, “which is closely related to this, is to observe what the WAN-IFRA is doing. I know it sounds pretty corporate, but we're a member-based organization. We're not looking for profit. Our work is made possible by the contributions of our associates, we work for them ", emphasizes.

“ Look at all the reports we are writing”, he continues, quoting five case studies.

Therefore, “I recommend that you be interested in what is being done outside your own organization, for there are people who have done this work before — learn from them. Talk to your peers, including those in other countries. And I also say this to the Portuguese: take part in our events and learn from each other”, he says.

And, of course, “today the main challenge is AI. There are many opportunities, but also many challenges. On the other hand, I realize something quite reassuring at the moment: it seems that today, the publishers [news editors] speak much more with a unique voice than they did 15 years ago,” he says.