November 28, 2025 – OTTAWA, ON
News Media Canada and the Community Media Coalition, represented by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, are pleased to announce that applications for the 2025-2027 round of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) are now being accepted.
Established in 2019, the LJI is delivered by three not-for-profit organizations with the mission to provide funding to Canadian media organizations to support the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across the country.
Applications for the 2025-2027 program will be accepted via our shared online portal. News Media Canada and the Community Media Coalition are pleased to be working together to deliver a harmonized and consistent program across multiple media sectors.
“Since 2019, the LJI has supported the creation of original civic journalism in underserved communities across the country,” said Paul Deegan, president and CEO of News Media Canada. “Local fact-based, fact-checked news, produced by real journalists, is essential to the health and vitality of Canadian communities. We are excited to continue to support that noble mission.”
“We live in an age where fighting for democracy and holding those in power to account has never been more important. Local reporters are the front line in this fight,” said Alex Freedman, Executive Director of the Community Radio Fund of Canada. “The Local Journalism Initiative has been an unmitigated success in supporting local news and informing communities. We look forward to continuing this critical work.”
What’s new?
The 2025-2027 version of the program welcomes two new funding opportunities, the Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) and the establishment of a special Pilot Project. The Changing Narratives Fund stream is managed solely by the Community Media Coalition.
The CNF offers funding to diverse-owned and/or diverse-led media organizations seeking to hire journalists who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethnoreligious minority, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or a person with disabilities. Applications will be open Dec. 3.
The Pilot Project is designed to respond to the distinct challenges of start-up organizations, Indigenous organizations, and rural/remote media organizations. This stream offers enhanced eligible expenses, such as travel, accommodation, and professional development expenses, to media organizations located in rural, remote, and/or Indigenous communities.
Important dates and deadlines:
November 28, 2025 – Applications Open
December 19, 2025 – Applications Close
December 19, 2025 – January 16, 2026 – Assessment and Selection Process
January 19, 2026 – Notification of results
Organizations interested in applying to this round of the LJI should review the program guidelines and all other documentation carefully. This will be a competitive process that will be fair, equitable, and transparent.
A description of the different segments of the industry served by News Media Canada and the Community Media Coalition is included below:
News Media Canada supports:
- English-language newspapers and online news services
- French-language newspapers and online news services
- Indigenous newspapers and online services
Community Media Coalition, represented by the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CFRC) supports:
- Ethnic media: newspapers, online news services, community radio and community television stations
- English-language community radio stations outside of Quebec
- English-language community television stations
- French-language community television stations outside of Quebec
- Indigenous community radio stations and community television stations
Program officers at News Media Canada and the Community Media Coalition, represented by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, would be pleased to answer any questions.
For more information about the LJI program, please contact:
News Media Canada at: lji@newsmediacanada.ca
Community Media Coalition, represented by the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CFRC) at: lji-ijl@crfc-fcrc.ca