Canadaland, Arsenal Media, Overstory Media Group, Discourse Community Publishing, Indiegraf, Metro Media, Narcity Media and Vocal Fry Studios, are among a coalition of more than 100 independent Canadian news publishers, pushing for amendments to C-18, the Online News Act. The coalition says it’s come together to ask for basic fairness, saying that as currently structured, Bill C-18 does not specifically direct funding towards supporting the critical work of journalists, lacks transparency mechanisms and risks leaving out small, medium size and independent publishers. Modelled after Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code, the coalition says measures must be taken to avoid repeating the mistakes of that legislation with an estimated 90% of negotiated revenues in Australia flowing to the three largest media companies. Read more here.
The Digital Publishing Awards have announced this year’s winners with Radio-Canada claiming a leading 12 awards, including seven Gold and five Silver. The Globe and Mail received five awards in total — four Silver, plus Gold in Innovation in Digital Storytelling for Jeremy Agius’ The Void in Calgary on the city’s high rate of commercial vacancies. The Toronto Star’s The Last Orca on Marineland’s lone captive orca, was a Gold winner in Best Digital Editorial Package and Best Digital Design. Toronto’s The Local won General Excellence in Digital Publishing (Small Division) and Best News Coverage (Community Publication) for Vaccinating Toronto. The Narwhal also picked up Silver and Gold awards for Best Photo Storytelling.
