Media Technology Monitor (MTM) says almost 80% of English-speaking Canadian adults and 74% of French speakers are now reading news online. MTM’s data indicates TV and internet remain the key ways of getting news with just over three in five English and French speakers saying they watch content on a news specialty channel. Four-fifths of English speakers, aged 65+, are watching news specialty channels, compared to half of those aged 18-34. Younger anglophones are more likely to watch news video content online with the highest viewing among 35-49 year olds, while viewing of the same content among Francophones is highest among 18-34 year olds. News broadcaster websites represent the most popular sources for online news among English-speaking news readers. Social media is now the second most common source for online news, reaching two in five online news readers. Read more here.
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Ontario Creates have announced a new partnership to fund early-stage, interactive digital media development projects from emerging and equity-deserving Ontario companies. The program is intended to provide funding for early-stage project-related development to companies that have either completed Ontario Creates’ Futures Forward training in Fall 2022 or meet the eligibility criteria for the Ontario Creates IDM Fund, where the majority or owners self-identify as members of an equity-deserving community including women, 2SLGBTQIA+, those with disabilities, and/or Francophone. Eligible projects must be Interactive Content or Video Content for digital platforms like video games, mobile content apps, e-learning content, XR experiences, digital publishing projects, web series, and video content for online magazines. Click here to access program guidelines. Applications close Jan. 23.
