Media Beat, Sept. 21, 2023

By David Farrell

Métro Media to declare bankruptcy as local journalism takes another hit

The company now has roughly 70 employees, including some 30 journalists whose temporary layoffs will become permanent, on top of earlier rounds of layoffs since last winter.

On Friday, Metroland Media Group — unrelated to Métro Media — also announced it will seek bankruptcy protection and shift to an online-only model as one of the country’s largest media conglomerates shuts down community news titles. The move means large swaths of Ontario are poised to lose their local papers and more than 600 employees are set to lose their jobs. – Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press

Mass journalism layoffs don’t just mean a gap in news coverage. Experts worry they’ll hurt democracy too

Toronto Star owner announced it would cut 600 jobs at regional papers late last week

The mass layoffs of more than 600 people at Metroland Media Group, along with the news that Nordstar plans to stop printing most of its 70 community newspapers across Ontario, spells trouble for a healthy democracy, say industry experts. – RCI

Most Canadians believe news should be free and media will fend financially

A new survey suggests that most Canadians feel news should be free and accessible for anyone, while also believing that media will find other ways to make money.

Leger conducted a national online survey of 1,564 people over the weekend to seek opinions about the Liberal government's Online News Act.– The Canadian Press

Bell Media Radiothon raises over $1M for Montreal Children’s Hospital

A fundraiser in support of the Montreal Children’s Hospital raised just over $1,300,000.

Money raised from Bell Media's 20th annual Caring for Kids Radiothon will go towards programs and new medical equipment. Some of the items include fetal pillows, bone-anchored hearing aids and convertible chairs for patients staying overnight. – Olivia O’Malley, CTV News