By Merja Myllylahti. Published by Bridget Williams Books, 2023. (NZD18). Reviewed by Gerald Scanlan

In this short book, Merja Myllylahti lays out her strong argument: that tech giants, especially Google and Facebook, have radically and (probably) permanently altered the way in which news is gathered, produced, disseminated, sold and consumed. While less convincing about the impact on democracy, she offers evidence that the news media’s ability to function as the “fourth estate” has been weakened by the impact of Google and others.

The book is meticulously researched and referenced, with fascinating insights into the shift in the way people now consume news and where they find it (or it finds them). Myllylahti provides a comprehensive account of the ways in which traditional media, new media and the global tech platforms are entangled and, arguably, codependent.

With the demise of Newshub, the government’s decision to proceed with the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill and the emergence of AI-based search tools, the future of traditional news media in a digital age remains highly topical and uncertain. Myllylahti’s framing of the issues and up-to-date data offer a useful primer for readers seeking to understand New Zealand’s changing media landscape.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 295 August 2024: 27