May 1st marks International Workers’ Day and commemorates the fight for fair labour conditions that continue to be as relevant today as they were in 1886.
CMG stands in solidarity with workers around the world as we acknowledge the struggle for fairness and a future for the media sector as technology continues to change how the work is done.
The results of our union-wide survey between February 13 and March 2, 2026, showed that media workers are proud of their work and committed to public service, but they are being failed by the conditions around them.
Covering content ranging from natural disasters, wars, tragedies, and human suffering take their toll on the workers involved. Those in the public eye are also exposed to online threats and harassment. 89% of surveyed members say they need supports for health, safety, and mental wellbeing.
Unstable and short-term funding has resulted in an industry relying more on temporary workers instead of permanent roles with wages that keep up with the cost of living. 88 % of those surveyed are concerned about job security and describe the industry as unstable.
Burnout and a lack of job security are key forces leading some to leave the industry.
A reliance on AI-generated content is not a solution for an industry to continue to meet the demands of Canadians. 90% of survey respondents want protections as AI and technology reshape their work.
With bargaining ahead this year for many of our branches, be sure to reach out to fellow union members of your workplace, encouraging them to sign their card if they have not done so already. From the newsroom to the bargaining table, we must continue to organize, speak out, and support one another.
Photo taken March 5, 2026 in the CMG Head office in Toronto.
R-L Top Row – Vice-President Faith Fundal, CBC Branch Vice-President Karina Roman, TVO Branch President Colin Ellis, National Secretary-Treasurer Aloysius Wong, Director, Human Rights and Equity Sangeeta Patel, CBC Branch President Naomi Robinson, APTN Branch President Dennis Rondeau
R-L Bottom Row – Director, Francophone Issues Lambert Garceau, CMG President Jane Robertson
NEC members not pictured – Director – Precarious Workers Arman Aghbali, Director – Small Branches Darren Gonsalves, Islington Printing Branch President Maurice Miller
May 3, 2026 – World Press Freedom Day 2026: What a Free Press Requires
The future of our democracy and Canadian cultural sovereignty rely on a healthy and diverse free press.
Today, that work is increasingly shaped by forces beyond the newsroom.
Global technology platforms such as Google, Meta and Amazon exert enormous influence over how information is distributed and accessed in Canada. These largely U.S.-based companies act as gatekeepers to news, while operating outside the traditional frameworks that have historically supported public-interest journalism in Canada.
The rapid rise of AI-generated content adds another layer of complexity. While new technologies can support journalistic work, they also raise serious concerns about accuracy, accountability, and the erosion of trust. Without clear standards and protections, the use of AI risks displacing workers, devaluing original reporting, and contributing to the spread of misinformation.
A free press requires more than the absence of censorship. It requires:
- independent and diverse media ownership
- stable, well-supported jobs in journalism
- transparency and accountability from technology platforms
- protections that ensure new technologies strengthen instead of replacing human reporting
For media workers in Canada, these concerns shape the conditions under which journalism is produced every day.
CBC/Radio-Canada Branch Vice-President Karina Roman represented the CMG at the World Press Freedom luncheon in Ottawa, where she was happy to take part in this important discussion on behalf of Guild members. If you would like to get more involved with the work of the Guild’s Press Freedom Committee, please contact CMG president Jane Roberston (president@cmg.ca).
