Canada Is Set to Become a Global Leader in Levelling the Playing Field for Local News

In a democracy, nothing is more vital than a healthy, vibrant local news media. But the threats from Big Tech are increasing every day.  The future of your local news is at stake.

The government’s 100-day plan will place Canada in the front ranks of global leadership standing up for local news. The commitment is clear. All parties in Parliament support decisive action.

News Media Canada, representing hundreds of trusted titles in our print and digital media industry, and our news publishing partners across Canada and around the world, call on Canadian parliamentarians to work together to level the digital playing field between local news and Big Tech.

Now is the time for the government to act and pass legislation.

THE FUTURE OF YOUR LOCAL NEWS IS AT STAKE

Google and Facebook are two of the biggest companies in the world.

You might say they're modern-day Goliaths. They are using their monopoly power to scoop up 80% of online advertising revenues and to free ride on the news content produced by hardworking journalists and publishers across Canada.

Maybe it's time to start leveling the playing field a little, so the Davids of this world can start fighting back.  That's what Australia is doing.  They're putting in place a comprehensive solution to enable news publishers in that country to counteract the power of the web giants.  They're doing it with support from all the main political parties.  And they're doing it without new government funding, or new taxes, or new consumer fees.  We think our parliament here in Canada should do the same.

It's all in our new report Levelling the Digital Playing Field which provides an in-depth analysis of actions taken in democracies around the world to address the same challenge.


Read the report
And tell your MP to stand up with
David against the Goliaths. 

“A strong, diverse and independent news media is valued by Canadians and crucial to our democracy.

Publishing real news costs money, and Google and Facebook – two of the biggest companies in the world – cannot continue to be allowed to free-ride on the backs of Canadian news media publishers who produce news content, without fair compensation.

We have heard the global web giants’ hollow commitment to journalism and to token compensation.  The time to tackle the global web giants, as the federal government indicated in September, is now.”

Jamie Irving, Vice-President of New Brunswick news publishing company BNI and Chair of News Media Canada’s working group

In the News

On October 22, 2020 Canada’s news media publishers called on all political parties in Parliament to support the adoption of Australia’s approach to combat the monopolistic practices of Google and Facebook.

Report: Levelling the Digital Playing Field

Click below to download the full report and a shorter executive summary.

What Google and Facebook don’t want you to know about their campaign against local news

Canada’s local news publishers, big and small, came together to urge the federal government – and MPs of all parties – to join with democracies around the world in fighting Google and Facebook’s relentless attacks against local news.

The two web giants use their monopoly positions to deny local newspapers the revenues – primarily from advertising – that pays for real journalism (outlined in the report above).  Google and Facebook combined collect 80% of all online revenues in Canada.

Google has a monopoly over every step of buying and selling digital advertising. Since 2001 Google has aggressively acquired digital display advertising technology companies that posed any threat. Former competitors have been integrated into their global ecosystem. Google now controls and derives revenue from every aspect of the digital advertising supply chain for publishers and advertisers.

Levelling the Digital Playing Field - Fact Sheet

Contact Your MP

Tell your MP to stand up with David.  Start by entering your information below to generate an email your MP and the Minister of Heritage to elevate awareness of the report and the recommended approach to address these monopolistic practices.  You will have a chance to view the email before sending.

Download an overview of the challenge our industry is facing and the recommended approach we are calling on the Government of Canada to implement.

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