Local Journalism Initiative continues to increase local news production

Ottawa, May 27, 2020 – The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) has launched the second phase of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI).  The LJI will continue to increase the production of local news by campus, community and Type B Indigenous radio stations in areas where local news is poor or simply unavailable. Twenty two stations were supported in the first phase of funding.

The project is made possible by a $2M grant from the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Canadian Heritage. Together with the CRFC, the Local Journalism Initiative supports the creation of original civic journalism that is relevant to the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

Promoting local news 

The LJI allows selected communities to have their stories told on their local station and furthermore will also make this content available to the whole country.

“Canada-Info.ca will be the online source for all of the journalism being produced by LJI journalists including the 22 stations that were supported in our first phase of funding,” explains Emmanuel Sayer, Programs Manager of the CRFC. 

Selected radio stations could receive up to $ 30,000 to cover the salary of a journalist for a six month period.

 

“Moments such as the COVID pandemic show us all how important it is to have access to trustworthy information when you need it.  Through this initiative we are connecting Canadians in a way that has not been possible until now,” said Alex Freedman, Executive Director of the CRFC.  “This is an important time to support journalism in all our communities.”

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For more information, contact: 

Emmanuel Sayer
Programs Manager
Community Radio Fund of Canada
Tel.: (613) 321-3513 prog@crfc-fcrc.ca