CBC is ramping up its local and regional news coverage across Canada, announcing plans to add up to 25 new journalists to address gaps particularly evident in underserved communities. This initiative aims to fortify the presence of trusted local journalism at a time when demand seems higher than ever.
Also fueling this expansion is the recent decision by Canada’s radio and telecommunications regulator, the CRTC, which gave the green light for Google to financially support Canadian news organizations. This approval is part of the Online News Act, enabling Google to direct substantial funding toward news outlets, marking a significant pivot for media financing.
“Canadians need trusted, local news more than ever. We will continue to deliver on our strategy of investing in local journalism to serve communities, particularly those missing from mainstream news coverage,” stated Brodie Fenlon, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of CBC News.
This commitment to enhancing local news efforts isn’t new; the CBC has previously expanded its reporting presence to cities across Canada including Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Cranbrook, Nanaimo, and Kingston, highlighting the broadcaster's continued dedication to accessibility and relevance.
To reach more viewers, CBC is also launching localized FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channels throughout 12 regions including Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Windsor, Ottawa, and various locations across New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and the North. These new channels complement the existing national, British Columbia, and Toronto streaming options, ensuring coverage is both local and accessible.
For those engaging with podcasts, CBC has rolled out four fresh daily local podcasts: This is Vancouver, This is Manitoba, This is Toronto, and This is Nova Scotia. These join the existing lineup featuring weekly reports from regions like Vancouver Island, Edmonton, and Montreal, among others.
Meanwhile, for TV viewers residing in Atlantic Canada, CBC plans to introduce four new late-night TV programs, set to air every night at 11 p.m. AT, covering news and events specific to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The regional newscast Atlantic Tonight will continue as a weekend staple, broadcasting on both Saturdays and Sundays.
The CBC's budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year amounts to $1.4 billion, slightly up from the previous year's total of $1.3 billion. Interestingly, about 70% of this budget is underpinned by government funding, reflecting the broadcaster's reliance on taxpayer support amid rising operational costs.
Google, through its recent settlement with Canadian authorities, is committed to paying Canadian journalists approximately $100 million annually to adhere to measures laid out by the federal government. These funds will be administered by the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC), ensuring they reach local newsrooms and independent journalists.
While Google has made strides toward compliance with Canada's new media policies, it's worth noting the contrasting strategy from social media giant Meta, which has taken issue with the act. Instead of paying for news content, Meta has limited the sharing of news links on its platforms, which raises unexpected challenges for those relying on social media for news distribution.
