The announcement should be good news for media companies. Some digital publishers are being affected by Facebook’s growing popularity as audiences continue to consume news on the social network instead of these companies’ websites.

Brown shared the news of her appointment in a post on her verified Facebook page. The post was Liked by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In the update, Brown writes, “I will be working directly with our partners to help them understand how Facebook can expand the reach of their journalism, and contribute value to their businesses.”

She notes her role will also include getting feedback from publishers on the new products and tools the company develops for news organisations.

South African publishers want more collaboration

In December 2016, digital publishers told media update that while Facebook is a major source of traffic to their news websites, they want a better relationship with the social network.

Read our article on South African publishers’ attitude towards social-first content like Facebook Instant Articles.

Chris Louw, group digital editor of Caxton Publishing’s digital division, told us that an improved relationship between publishers and social platforms is vital. “A better relationship will ensure that publishers are comfortable within social platforms to publish any news,” he said.

Brown recognises that the role Facebook plays in distributing news is not without its challenges. “Right now, we are watching a massive transformation take place in the news business – both in the way people consume news and in the way reporters disseminate news,” she writes. “Facebook is a major part of this transformation. This change comes with enormous challenges for journalists but also with great opportunities.”

Brown is a former anchor at CNN and NBC News. She is also the founder of Partnership for Educational Justice, a non-profit organisation in New York, and a co-founder of The 74, a non-profit news site covering education.