Local news is in a crisis. Jobs are disappearing, communities are losing their newspapers, television and radio stations, trusted media are vanishing leaving many Canadians without adequate news services. Numerous challenges experienced by media workers were shared during the CRTC’s recent review of local and community TV programming. The decline in local news is also the subject of a national study by the House of Commons Heritage Committee, chaired by long-time Liberal MP Hedy Fry.
The Heritage Committee is soliciting input from across Canada, as it examines the impact of the sharp drop in the availability of local news, the financial challenges in the industry, and the impact the decrease in local information on Canadians.
The Canadian Media Guild appeared before the Committee today, to emphasize the challenges faced by media workers as they go through job and programming cuts, corporate downsizing, long hours, low pay and precarious work. CMG President Carmel Smyth called for increased funding for CBC/Radio Canada, better support for education and provincial broadcasters TVO and tfo among others, and special recognition for North America’s only Aboriginal news network, APTN.
CMG also told the Committee about the value of local news and the bond of trust citizens build with media workers they come to know and recognize as neighbours and fellow community members. We reminded the Committee that many significant national stories stem from the connections and insight journalists gain by being part of the community.
CMG made the case that stable long-term funding for CBC/Radio Canada, including an increase to $40 per capita, (up from the current $29) would be a step in the right direction. The idea was already recommended by a previous Heritage committee review eight years ago. The union also told the Committee it had asked the CRTC to re-establish a industry fund that cable companies and others would contribute to, to support local news, and the creation of original Canadian programming on all platforms.