Local Journalism Initiative
On March 1, 2024, the Government of Canada committed $10M, over 3 years, starting in 2024-2025, to the Department of Canadian Heritage to support the implementation of the Changing Narratives Fund. Additional information to be made available in Winter 2025 on the Local Journalism Initiative’s delivery of the Changing Narratives Fund. A summary of the new stream is offered below.
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.
Funding is available to eligible Canadian media organizations to hire journalists or pay freelance journalists to produce civic journalism for underserved communities.
The content produced will be made available to media organizations through a Creative Commons license so that Canadians can be better informed.
Program administration
To protect the independence of the press, 7 not-for-profit organizations representing different segments of the news industry will administer the Initiative. These organizations will give funding to Canadian media organizations to address the need for local civic journalism in underserved communities.
New: Changing Narrative Fund stream 2025-27
The Changing Narrative Fund stream of LJI prioritizes funding for the hiring of diverse (i.e., Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minority, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+ communities) journalists (including emerging journalists) in diverse-owned and mainstream news organizations to produce civic journalism for underserved communities. This stream will be launched in Winter 2025.
Who can apply
To be eligible for funding, an applicant must be:
- a press agency;
- a private news organization; or
- a non-profit news organization.
Private non-community broadcasters and the CBC/Radio-Canada are not eligible.
Organizations must also operate in the following fields:
- written press
- community radio
- community television
- online news services
The objective must be to increase local civic journalism in underserved communities.
How to apply
Interested organizations are invited to contact directly the appropriate industry organization or visit their website for details.
Contact us
For questions related to the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI), please contact the appropriate delivery organization.
For general questions about LJI, please contact:
- Address
-
Periodical Publishing Policy and Programs Directorate
Department of Canadian Heritage
25 Eddy St 25-8-U
Gatineau QC J8X 4B5 - PCH.fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund.PCH@canada.ca
- Telephone
- 1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
- TTY
- 1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)
Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (ET).
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