July 13, 2023 – The top story of Canadian news in recent years is one of decline – falling revenues, shrinking work forces of journalists, and fewer readers, watchers and listeners.
This has left Canada’s media companies looking for answers. New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute has Canadians ruling out at least two proposed solutions. A majority (59%) oppose the government funding of private newsrooms, believing it “compromises journalistic independence”. A similar proportion (57%) say the consolidation of media – such as the recently considered but ultimately rejected coming together of Torstar and Postmedia – should be discouraged “so there is more competition in news coverage in Canada”. In opposition are minorities who say “consolidation is necessary for the survival of newspapers” (20%) and “the government needs to fund newsrooms because of the importance of journalism” (19%).
What remains is uncertain – though earlier released ARI data found Canadians in support of the goal of Bill C-18 to funnel money from the “Big Tech” duo of Meta and Google to newsrooms if not the means. However, there is no stop to the seismic shift to the media consumption landscape happening under newsrooms’ feet. Even as recently as 2016, two-in-five (42%) Canadians said they read a print publication daily for their news. Now that figure has halved (19%). Television (71% to 52%) and radio news (57% to 45%) have also declined in prominence, though they remain important sources of information for majorities of Canadians over the age of 54. In their place, nearly all (89%) Canadians turn to the internet for news, leaving newsrooms to compete in a crowded advertising dollar ecosystem dominated by the two Big Tech apex predators.
More Key Findings
Defunding CBC
Though the government funding of private newsrooms is unpopular among Canadians, half (47%) disagree the federal government should completely defund CBC. One-third (36%) want to see CBC’s funding cut off, including approaching three-quarters (72%) of past CPC voters.
M & A
Fewer than one-in-five (17%) supported the now-dead merger between Torstar and Postmedia. Nearly as many were opposed (43%) as uncertain.
TV News
Three-quarters (74%) of Canadians over the age of 54 say they turn on the TV daily for their news. One-quarter (26%) of 18- to 34-year-olds say the same. In fact, as many of the youngest Canadian adults (28%) say they get news from podcasts on a typical day.
Survey Methodology
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from July 4-6, 2023 among a representative randomized sample of 1,610 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI.
For detailed results by age, gender, region, education, and other demographics, click here.
For detailed results by whether respondents believe the government should fund newsrooms, click here.
To read the full report, including detailed tables and methodology, click here.
To read the questionnaire, click here.
From the Angus Reid Institute, Canada’s non-profit foundation committed to independent research.
For detailed breakdown of the results, visit angusreid.org