The online newsletter space could be set to attract another high-profile attendee after Facebook confirmed it was working on its own tools for journalists and writers. The proposal, which will be part of Facebook's Journalism Project, is reportedly still in a very early stage, but will likely mirror existing newsletter services. Three people familiar with the matter told the New York Times that Facebook's new tools would support independent publishers to grow their number of social media subscribers, help them organize mailing lists, and potentially provide paid subscription tools for help publishers monetize their newsletters. Launching personalized newsletter services would help Facebook in its efforts to be seen as a legitimate source of information. The social network launched its News tab in 2019 and has since committed to donating more than €100 million to give a boost to the struggling local news industry.
I will write to pay
Facebook isn't the only major tech player exploring the newsletter space. Earlier this week, Twitter announced that it had acquired the newsletter service Revue to help writers who use its platform generate revenue. Twitter has already made Review Pro features free for all account holders and reduced the paid newsletter fee to 5%. The newsletter space has increased dramatically in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, with many writers left with no choice but to monetize their services independently after the pandemic led to major job losses in the news media sector. communication. Services like Patch and Substack also provide solutions for writers trying to make a living in difficult circumstances. More details on Facebook's newsletter service are sure to come in the coming months, but it's likely a good fit for the stated goals of the Facebook Journalism Project, which aims to "strengthen the bond between journalists and the communities that exist". . Via Engadget