Google is giving $163 million to Europe-based news publishers and journalism-focusing start-ups over the course of the next three years. The funds are part of a bigger package and are to be used to help companies make money from their own online content. The initiative is being backed by publications including The Guardian (UK) and Die Zeit (Germany). However, a number of media groups that have criticized the company in the past are not involved, with various Rupert Murdoch-owned companies not appearing on its list of “founding partners”. Google says such companies are welcome to join the scheme.
Google agreed to launch a similar fund to support French media companies in 2013. The decision came after the company were accused of showing headlines and text from various publications in the Google News service without permission. Companies accepting money from Google are likely to work hard to convince their readers they are not embroiled in a conflict of interest.
The European Union recently said that Google had been abusing its position as a leading search engine in order to place more emphasis on its own products and services. Google are said to be racing Apple towards the world’s first $1 trillion valuation.
