The Liberal government has announced the extension of the Local Journalism Initiative, allocating $58.8 million to sustain 400 local reporting positions across the country. Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge revealed the decision, emphasizing the program’s importance in supporting news coverage in underserved communities, including Indigenous, official language minority, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Established in 2019, the initiative provides funding to news organizations to hire local reporters. The government ensures the independence of the press by administering the funding through not-for-profit organizations.
The Canadian Press (CP) is involved in the initiative through a contract with News Media Canada, providing editorial support, technical expertise, and delivery services. Although CP does not directly receive LJI grant money for journalist positions, a representative from CP participates in the panel that reviews applications for LJI grants administered by News Media Canada. This collaborative effort aims to strengthen local journalism and ensure diverse voices are represented in media coverage across Canada.
