Journalism in Canada is at its lowest ebb in decades, as evidenced by the cancellation or pausing of several post-secondary programs in the subject due to the dismal job market.
Postmedia Network, Canada’s largest newspaper chain by far, is 98 per cent owned by U.S. hedge funds and has had to sell assets and lay off workers to make payments on the hundreds of millions in company debt the vulture capitalists also hold. The corporation has steadily tightened its grip on Canadian newspapers since its creation in 2010, buying: Sun Media, Canada’s second-largest chain at the time, in 2015; Brunswick News, the chain that monopolizes New Brunswick, in 2022; and SaltWire, the chain that dominates the rest of the Maritimes, earlier this year.
Canada’s current second-largest chain, Torstar, was taken over in 2020 by private equity firm NordStar Capital, which has been stripping its assets and eviscerating its workforce. Last year, it converted 71 Ontario community newspapers published by its Metroland subsidiary to online-only publications, laying off more than 600 workers in the process. It then cheated them out of the severance pay they were owed by taking advantage of our bankruptcy laws.
Our broadcasting industry isn’t in much better shape,…
I mean, there you have it. Your options are currently the American owned PostMedia, or the CBC. Meanwhile, Poilievere targets literally the only remaining Canada owned media company nation wide, while claiming to put Canada first.
The hypocrisy is naked and shameless, yet we’re looking at a CPC majority under his leadership? There has got to be a better option.
You know, I’m really glad we have LaPresse and Le Devoir in Québec. Two independant newspapers that are highly regarded over here. Then you have Le Journal de Montreal. A conservative right wing tabloid newspaper owned by Quebecor, the empire that owns TVA, TVA Nouvelles, and LCN. They instill fear in people over any topic that might be considered a bit to their left. It’s almost funny how obvious it is.
Can’t be worse than what we just experienced under the liberals
lulz, hope you don’t need any public services in the next couple years.
A special form of stupid. That’s now blocked.
You are mistaken or delusional. Things can always get worse.
Oh, buddy… it can be worse. It could be a lot, lot worse.
Paid agitator.
We 1000% can.
Destroying the only widespread source of information that isn’t centralized in the hands of American ogliarchs is immediately worse, and that’s literally just the beginning.
Support independent outlets like The Breach or Canadaland
This is the way. Shoutout to The Tyee as well.
I’m split on this being the way - I would much prefer we keep the CBC, and I think an outlet with journalistic independence, national reach and recognition is an important thing for Canada. But there’s a million things attacking it, so directly funding alternative outlets doing good work is OK in my book.
Will note people need to be conscious of any present bias and editorial slant in these smaller outlets - Canadaland has a particular type of Torontonian snark that has rubbed some Canadians the wrong way* for a long time in other contexts - but frankly this is necessary for larger outlets too anyway.
*I could just be salty that Jesse came for my boy Stuart McLean once. Putting aside my “How dare you!” initial reaction some interesting points were made in the criticism.
Anyone know what the plan is? Cut funding, privatize? You can’t just erase it overnight.
Any and all news media companies thay can’t surivive without taking government funded handouts is better off going under, shutting down, and out of business.
Cool ideology, bro!
Now do fire departments!
Why do whiteboys call people “bro”?
This is why clickbait is so prevalent.
Without outside funding, the focus then needs to become gaining viewers and adds, not telling stating facts accurately, or doing in-depth journalism.
