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PCH | Future of the Government Support for News and Magazine

PCH | Future of the Government Support for News and Magazine

By Clara Godbillon-Vasseur, Policy Advisor, Cultural Policy Hub

This submission responds to the Department of Canadian Heritage’s (PCH) 2026 engagement to help define the future of Canada’s support to its news and magazine sector. It consolidates internal research, sector insights, policy pathways and recommendations from convenings conducted by the Cultural Policy Hub over the past two years. Through its network, the Hub has fostered conversations with independent news leaders, funders, researchers, philanthropists, journalists and policymakers to examine the challenges of independent and local journalism and possible solutions moving forward.

The Hub’s submission argues for support to the news sector across four areas: Local Journalism Initiative & Complementary Policies; Access to Data & Research; Philanthropy; and AI, Content Provenance & Digital Sovereignty.  

The document includes several recommendations for consideration that respond to the questions outlined in PCH's engagement call. These recommendations are informed by expert perspectives gathered by the Hub in its convenings on journalism, and are reinforced by studies led by partners of the Hub in each of these areas.

Key recommendations include:

  1. Create a Journalism Research Institute: Support public‑private partnerships that leads to detailed and transparent year-over-year data collection to understand new trends and to inform policymakers, sector leaders and philanthropists
  2. Support the philanthropic leadership that is already emerging: Work with philanthropic foundations that are already supporting local journalism to incentivize more community foundations to join this movement and improve belonging in their community through local news
  3. Reform the Local Journalism Initiative: Extend LJI funding timeframes; expand eligibility criteria while re-emphasizing civic coverage; support training and mentorship of civic affairs journalist and include the journalism sector in any Government of Canada future AI training fund.
  4. Develop a coordinated approach to establish content provenance for AI-generated content: Canadian public institutions and technology providers should act proactively and develop a coordinated approach that aligns stakeholders and establishes norms and easy-to-implement tools to limit the spread of misinformation and bolster trust in the news.

Read the full submission below: 

Download the Report