Arron Nyamayaro
THE honeymoon for media vultures, who are reaping from where they did not sow by simply plucking and reproducing content from the mainstream media, is coming to an end, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said this yesterday while touring Alpha Media Holdings in Harare yesterday.
He was responding to questions from journalists about social media groups who wake up every morning to publish stories, on their online platforms, which would have been taken from mainstream media organisations.
“The Ministry has received complaints from media organisations that there are some online groups reaping from where they did not sow.
“They wake up every day to upload news they did not create on their digital platforms and aggregate the content closing the door for original content creators to make money.
“This has become a big challenge to original content creators, who are losing dividends.
“Such challenges are to be discussed in the new media policy and will seek legislation to put these content aggregates to an end.
“We need a global intervention and international legislation to protect original content creators.”
Last month, The New York Times launched a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement in which it accuses the two parties of seeking a free-ride on the newspaper’s investment into its journalism.
Minister Muswere reiterated that he was a Minister of all the media organisations.
“If you publish negatives about your country as a private media, you will feel the effects as well.
“Let the media help in promoting peace and tranquillity as well as in nation building,” said Minister Muswere.
He thanked AMH with their operations and urged the private media not to be left out in Government’s 2030 Vision.