Local news is in crisis in Canada, with more than 500 communities losing local news providers since 2008. This decline has significant impacts on community connection, civic engagement and democratic accountability. Trusted local journalism plays a vital role in strengthening social cohesion and keeping Canadians informed about the issues that affect their daily lives.
The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) and the Michener Awards Foundation (MAF) have partnered with the Public Policy Forum (PPF) to support research and action aimed at strengthening Canada’s local news ecosystem. The reports below, produced by PPF in collaboration with RHF and MAF, build on years of research and offer recommendations to help rebuild and sustain local journalism in communities across the country.
Read the reports on PPF’s website:
The Great News Rebuild
How local media can rescue itself.
Uncovered
Canada’s parliamentary system means we vote for local representatives — so what happens during a federal election when the local news prism fades away?
The Lost Estate
Rebuilding a flourishing ecosystem of local news will require a strengthened web of connections linking news organizations to the communities they cover.
