Who holds tech firms to account when the media depends on them for income?

Google, Facebook and Apple are improving their news output by doing deals with cash-strapped media firms, but this raises fears of a conflict of interest

What should we make of recent overtures by tech firms to the news industry? Is this good news for news, citizens and the robustness of the tech industry?

The industry has always been defined by technology, from its Gutenbergian roots to the digital, social and mobile journalism of today, but it is the accelerated pace of change that is now a greater challenge. In large media organisations, where institutional change is difficult, many have been slow to understand the potential and threat of technology - which can provide new audiences and formats, yet also unprecedented competition. It is a thrilling, if unsettling, time.