CRTC Under Heat for C-18 Policy
Canadian news publishers have joined voices to urge the CRTC to provide further regulation regarding the subsidies that will be created from the Online News Act. Trade associations and publishers representing hundreds of organizations came together to call for consistency and fairness in bill C-18. "With $100 million annually at stake, news publishers want to ensure that maximum amount flows to newsrooms to maintain and grow journalism jobs in local communities across Canada." said Maria Saras-Voutsinas, executive director at Media Council Canada.
The group specifically takes exception with the role given to the Single Collective to distribute funds created by bill C-18. The Single Collective represents approximately 2-percent of journalists in Canada. The coalition of publishers has asked that administrative fees for the Single Collective be capped and the administrative group not be permitted to earn interest off the subsidies from the bill. They are also calling for enhanced transparency and scrutiny on payments being made to news businesses.
Read the full statement here: https://tinyurl.com/29hvshyp
The discussion surrounding the CRTC's role in implementing Bill C-18 highlights the complexities of ensuring fairness and equity in the allocation of subsidies. With $100 million annually at stake, it's crucial that the funds genuinely support local journalism and strengthen newsrooms across Canada. Maria Saras-Voutsinas's point about maintaining journalism jobs in local communities resonates strongly, especially given the challenges traditional media has faced in recent years.
The concerns raised about the Single Collective's limited representation and the need for capped administrative fees and increased transparency are valid. It's essential for the subsidies to directly benefit journalists and news outlets, not administrative overhead or unrelated interests.
For students writing about media policies or the evolving journalism landscape, this issue could provide…