By Connie Thiessen
The Canadian Journalism Collective-Collectif Canadien de Journalisme (CJC-CCJ) has disclosed the initial round of funding distributed to news businesses under the Online News Act.
The 108 news organizations securing a share of $22,193,608 in funding up until April 23, include The Globe and Mail ($2,062,409); Metroland Media ($1,953,750); Postmedia Network ($4,268,319); Black Press Group ($1,371,649); The Canadian Press ($1,355,445); Glacier Media ($397,002); Golden West Broadcasting ($289,838); Macleans ($199,814); Vista Radio ($185,394); Castanet ($155,584); The Tyee ($128,596); Investigative Journalism Foundation ($38,264); Bayshore Broadcasting ($30,482); Community Radio Fund of Canada ($26,639); and Byrnes Communications ($18,542).
Part of Google’s five-year exemption agreement that will see $100 million paid out annually to news organizations, the amounts disclosed represent 60 per cent of the estimated total news outlets will receive, calculated according to the total number of hours paid to employees dedicated to the production of online news in 2023. Two more tranches will flow to organizations by the end of the year.
“Today we show our world-leading model in action, ensuring Big Tech compensates news media for their journalism equitably and fairly across Canada’s news ecosystem,” said Sarah Spring, Executive Director of the Canadian Journalism Collective, in a release. “It’s an historic investment that is empowering a broad range of voices, and setting new democratic precedents in media funding and transparency.”
The funds are intended to support the work of journalists producing local, regional and national news content, with a goal to ensure news businesses meaningfully reinvest the funds in their newsrooms. The CJC-CCJ says it will be conducting regular due diligence to ensure funding recipients meet their obligations and provide regular public disclosures on funding through its website.
