INMA’s Basic Principles For News Media framework aims to safeguard journalism amid AI and platform disruption. Centred on democracy, fair compensation, and digital competition, the framework urges urgent action to protect press freedom, ensure fair licensing, and counter disinformation, preserving journalism’s role as democracy’s cornerstone.

Approved by INMA’s Board of Directors on September 17, 2025, the Principles respond to the mounting threats posed by generative AI, platform dominance, and organised disinformation, which are stripping value from trusted journalism while eroding public trust.

This report is freely available to INMA members and registered users (register at INMA.org to download).

The Basic Principles lay out an urgent road map for action, centred on three pillars:

1. Journalism as a democratic cornerstone.

2. Fair compensation for journalistic intellectual property.

3. Fair competition in the digital marketplace.

The Basic Principles document was created as part of INMA’s Digital Platform Initiative, whose mission is to educate members and the news industry at large on legislative, regulatory, and informational elements of tech platforms worldwide.

The Principles can be used as a framework for governments, institutions, tech platforms, and regulatory bodies to promote in law, policy, and competition contexts.