In a time where civic engagement and trust in democracy is needed more than ever, local independent news outlets need immediate support.

Since 2008, 516 local news outlets in Canada have shuttered; and the numbers of Canadian reporters have dropped by one third. Local news organizations shine a light on important issues facing communities and provide information people need to be informed and engaged citizens. Without local news, communities have less access to government, community developments, and how and where their interests are being represented. The less local the news, the greater the risk to our democracy.

It is widely acknowledged that a variety of solutions are required to strengthen Canada’s media sector, especially independent local news. But implementing these can take time, and their ripple effects aren’t always immediately felt, leaving some outlets with no choice but to shutter as they wait. We know there is desire to shore up and encourage the sustainability of these outlets, and luckily, there is a clear, actionable and immediately impactful way forward.

In partnership with the Michener Awards, RHF hosted a local news symposium this October where over 50 independent publishers gathered to talk about how to save, support and celebrate local news in a concrete and sustainable way. Many of them told us that sometimes the one thing getting them to the next issue was the amount of ad space they managed to sell that month or gaining a few extra subscribers and donations.

We are calling upon our peers, partners and sector stakeholders to join us in our support of local independent news across Canada. It’s a simple and achievable act to make sure Canadian communities continue to benefit from local news.

The RHF has placed ads in several local independent news outlets from across Canada this month, both in print and digitally. We will continue to assign 30% of our advertising budget to local news and are eager to find publications and outlets to support on a rotating basis throughout the year.

Through simple acts of purchasing ad space, buying subscriptions and making donations, we, as a sector, can keep local independent news flowing through communities from coast to coast to coast.