Senate Committee — TRCM — Brief — coalitiondesmagazinesducanada_e

TRCM / Brief / coalitiondesmagazinesducanada_e

Senate Committees

Bill C-18 – Submission by a coalition of Canadian magazines concerning the Online News Act Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage November 11, 2022 Brief submission describing the environment for magazines, our definition of journalism and information within this environment, and supporting data.

2 A healthy and sustainable Canadian media sector is a pillar of Canada’s democracy. By maintaining and strengthening our media sector, we are ensuring that it reflects Canadian society, publishes diverse voices, and resonates at the national and local levels in communities across Canada of all sizes. An overview of publishing online news Magazines are part of the Canadian media sector, and, more precisely, the Canadian news and journalism ecosystem. Magazines produce original Canadian c ontent, including news and commentary that appeal to both niche and broad-based audiences.

There is more than one way to cover the news, including “news of the day ” reported in daily and weekly newspapers , a nd the in -depth analys is and investigative journalism found in magazines. Both types of content are important and help provide Canadians with news they trust. Full-time work as a journalist is becoming increasingly rare , especially since spending on advertising continues to fall . Magazines in Canada have reported an average decline of 35% in advertising revenues over the past five years and with current levels of inflation, further cuts to editorial budgets could be in the offing.

Many small magazines and other publications rely on freelancers rather than staff journalists to offer diverse voices, i.e., rich and varied content, as well as relevant expertise. The same is true for magazines that target under-represented groups, which often rely on community members (many of whom are not considered to be journalists in the traditional sense of the word) to write and present or translate news of general interest. Others conflate the role of a journalist with that of an editor or publisher.

In our Canada-wide survey on equity, inclusion and diversity, conducted in 2021, 32% of respondents indicated that they were “journalists” (Reports on the Survey on the State of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in the Canadian Magazine Industry, July 29, 2021, by Aliya Jamal and Zenobia Jamal, Zenev and Associates. Summaries in English and in French). Magazines serve their communities. That is what Reflet société has done for 30 years, by providing a different, critical and compassionate point of view on major challenges facing our society.

Founded by Raymond Vigor, a journalist, now serving as its editor-in-chief, this non-profit organization develops the skills of up-and-coming journalists and mentors them in the context of an internship program. Many magazines also play a key information role . qathet Living, a monthly news magazine, assumed responsibility for reporting on local politics and regional news when the community newspaper folded.

Loose Lips, a feminist magazine, was founded by two journalism graduates who were unable to find a source of information that represented their target audience (local arts, culture, women’s health a nd current events from an intersectional perspective), and they therefore created one. In Quebec, Caribou magazine was founded by three young journalists who wanted to share information on Quebec’s culinary culture through high-quality texts and fine art. In Edmonton, Edify magazine refl ects the population and culture in the words and images of local journalists.

The best value that it offers to its reader s is its authenticity and local character. Edify prioritizes the city , its residents and its issues and does so in acclaimed and award -winning writing

3 known for its attention to detail. Both the journalists and freelancers who work for Edify understand the balance between “freedom of the press” and “accountability to the public”. They are staunch advocates of freedom of expression and are not afraid to tackle topics of interest and concern to readers. Agricultural journals intended for busine sses also provide key information to their industries.

Country Life in BC , an agricultural magazine that has been published since 1915, recently reported on the impact of this year’s drought , as well as on publication of the Senate report on the floods, updated child labour rules for British Columbia, ongoing supply chain problems, and much more. There are many other examples of magazines that expand their scope when other media options are not available or have failed. Without small media outlets, who will cover municipal councils and report on what is happening ?

Who will indicate how local members of parliament voted in Parliament and explain what that vote means for residents? An excellent local magazine engages its readership and represents it. How can magazines continue to do their

part if local independent me dia disappear or are absorbed by major chains where decisions are made by people who do not have any ties to the community? Magazine personnel and freelancers also produce informative podcasts. Canada’s National Observer, a digital news magazine, produced Race Against Climate Change, a six-part podcast on measures that Canadians are taking to combat climate change. The young hosts, Shaghayegh Tajvidi and Polly Leger, offer a fresh voice and perspective on this issue. This series was nominated for a Canadian Journalism Foundation Award.

The news content of magazines also include images taken by dedicated photojournalists who present a more nuanced and more accurate picture of a n issue , versus reusing an archived photo that could mislead readers or perpetuate harmful stereotypes (See

article by Jesse Winter, “Photographing Beyond Needle-in-Puddle”). In 2021, Quebec’s Dinette magazine won the award for best photography and best magazine issue at the National Magazine Awards, to add to the many awards it has received over the years . Dinette offers compelling narrative stories accompanied by ingeniously composed photos, all presented in a simple, pure and thoughtful signature aesthetic.

Many journalists start working at magazines, often by creating their own magazine, as was the case for The Narwhal, Vancouver Is Awesome, RANGE, The Discourse and other digital publications (or digital and printed publications), and they hire other local, young and diverse journalists. As this list indicates, it is very difficult to distinguish between online news magazines and online newspapers. Journalism is no longer what it used to be before the advent of social media or the Internet.

Journals and magazines are all part of the same world , and we are all unit ed by the same principles: independence of the media, freedom of expression and journalistic integrity.

4 Recommendations to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage by the Canadian coalition of magazines: 1. Recognize qualified Canadian magazine organizations under Bill C-18, the Online News Act, as is the case for qualified Canadian journalism organizations (p. 27); 2. Consider compensation for online news content as fair payment for the use of that content rather than a replacement for government funding and support; 3. Recognize the essential role that Canadian magazine organizations play in terms of producing informative local, regional and national content; 4.

Designate journalists as being qualified if they are employed by a professional Canadian magazine organization that produces content of general interest; 5. Accept Canadian magazines that employ less than two journalists; small magazines and magazines which rely on freelancers rather than staff journalists; 6. Include Canadian magazine organizations which produce content focused on news , sports, leisure activities, lifestyle, arts or entertainment. Magazines inform and educate our citizens.

Canada has a rich, complex and interconnected information landscape in which magazines, their personnel and their contributors play a key role. In this bill, we are asking you to recognize the essential role played by our industry. Members of the coalition of Canadian magazines • Magazines Canada is the national association representing Canadian -owned, Canadian-content consumer, cultural, specialty, professional and business magazines. French, English, Indigenous and ethnic member titles cover a wide range of interests, trades and communities across the country and across multiple platforms.

Topics include arts and culture, business and professional, lifestyle and food, news and politics, sports and leisure, women and youth. The association serves Canadian magazines through the core services of government affairs, retail distribution, professional development and research. • AQEM: The Association québécoise des éditeurs de magazines is a non -profit organization that brings together 45 publishers, ranging from small publishing houses to the largest publisher in the province.

AQEM repr esents over 100 publications across Quebec and 12 million readers every year, thereby covering numerous segments of our cultural fabric . Quebec’s magazine industry is truly a high-energy environment which reflects the broad diversity of modern-day Quebec. • MagsBC: In addition to offering benefits, such as internship subsidies, to its 52-member publications based in British Columbia (the majority of interns employed over the past three year s came from equity-seeking groups), MagsBC also encourages ethical journalism, in keeping with its membership requirements.

The organization also supports British Columbia’s magazines industry as a whole by offering opportunities for professional development, advocacy services and support in the form of subsidies or other services. • AMPA: the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) is a non-profit umbrella association that sustains a healthy magazine industry by serving the people who publish, create, print and

5 distribute a uniquely Albertan view of the world. AMPA supports 58 member magazines and the industry as a whole, by helping publishers in Alberta build their brands with proven and verifiable results in a safe and transparent environment of high quality and professional journalism. Alberta Magazine Publishers Association distributes 18 million copies of magazines to readers each year, and the conversations that we s park are essential to the social fabric of the province and the country.

6 Research + Knowledge = Insight (RKI) conducted a two-phase online survey, involving over 2,000 Canadians, to help publishers understand the Canadian magazine reader and identify the most effective way to encourage retail and subscription purchases. A majority of Canadians (54%) read a print magazine at least once a month.

7 The two surveys were conducted in November 2022 by the coalition of Canadian magazines, which includes Francophone and Anglophone publishers.

Document details

Collection	Senate Committees
Citation	TRCM / Brief / coalitiondesmagazinesducanada_e
Type	committee
Volume / chapter	441 / Brief / coalitiondesmagazinesducanada_e
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	COMM_SEN
Identifier	6d289f9081571815690e532c2ab530ea48d0d17d

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