Publisher Julia Becker has launched a sharp critique against global technology conglomerates, naming companies like Google and OpenAI for jeopardizing the existence and economic viability of traditional media. Writing in a guest piece for the news magazine “Focus”, Becker argues that while large platform and AI corporations benefit immensely from journalistic output, they fail to invest comparably in the creation of that work. She notes that these tech giants profit by externalizing the costly processes of research, quality checking, and verification, while internalizing the profits.
The publisher of the Funke Media Group warns that while this mechanism may appear economically efficient, it is profoundly dangerous from a democratic perspective. Becker cautions that if professional journalism loses its financial foundation, it will be swiftly replaced by content that is cheaper, louder, and ethically compromised-content that prioritizes maximum viral impact over commitment to the truth.
Becker emphasizes that journalistic outlets are not merely individual market participants. She defines them as democratic infrastructure-the “Fourth Estate”. Their critical function is not to govern, but to make power visible, to control its narrative, and to establish context. They hold society accountable by asking questions when others remain silent and by generating public discourse, even in uncomfortable territory.
However, this function is under massive strain because the control over public visibility has shifted away from newsrooms and into the hands of a few global platform corporations, such as Meta, Alphabet, and ByteDance. These companies may not directly censor content, but they control the reach, and Becker asserts that reach is synonymous with power.
She points to the situation in the United States as a warning sign. There, trust in the media sector has fractured along political lines, resulting in a lack of shared factual reality. Without a common basis of truth, democracy becomes fragile, and Europe is not immune to this threat.
The discussion turns to artificial intelligence. In her article, Becker observes that companies such as OpenAI and Google are building systems designed to “re-assemble and generate content”. While this technological feat is impressive, she warns that it raises fundamental democratic and economic questions. These systems rely entirely on the decades of research, archives, and information meticulously built by editorial teams and publishers. Paradoxically, the use of these tools tends to drive users away from the original, credible sources.
Consequently, the Funke Media Group’s board chair calls for the establishment of “fair competitive conditions in the digital sphere”. She demands that platforms must pay for the utilization of journalistic content-and this payment must be legally binding, not voluntary. Becker suggests that a form of digital levy would not be a punishment, but a necessary structural correction. Furthermore, she demands clear governance for AI, specifically requiring transparency regarding sources, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring that media professionals receive a fair share of the value generated.