Federal Policies Transform Community Newspapers, Strengthening Local Journalism
As a small business owner and publisher of a community newspaper approaching its 97th year of publication, I now believe reaching the century mark is genuinely achievable. Two federal government policies have fundamentally altered the trajectory of my newspaper and our community, serving as true game changers in an increasingly challenging media landscape.
Financial Support Through Federal Initiatives
Before the implementation of the Online News Act, Google selectively entered content licensing agreements with larger Canadian news publishers, leaving small independent community newspapers like mine struggling for survival. The tech giant essentially determined winners and losers in Canada's media ecosystem. Thanks to the Online News Act, my publication, the Crowsnest Pass Herald, now receives approximately $35,000 annually from Google, providing crucial financial stability.
The second transformative policy is the Local Journalism Initiative, which supports original civic journalism in underserved communities nationwide. This program enables media organizations to hire reporters or compensate freelance journalists. A particularly valuable aspect of the LJI is that content produced under this initiative becomes available to other media organizations through a Creative Commons license, allowing communities across Canada to learn about developments in my region.
Measurable Impact on Editorial Capacity
During the 2023–2024 period, the LJI program contributed to hiring approximately 700 journalists across Canada. Recently, the Crowsnest Pass Herald received LJI funding of about $39,000. These programs have created direct and measurable impacts on both editorial capacity and business growth.
Comparing our 2025 and 2026 editions reveals substantial and consistent improvements. In early 2025, the Pass Herald typically produced 16- to 20-page issues. We now consistently publish 20- to 24-page editions, representing an increase of four to eight pages per issue. Annually, this translates to approximately 192 to 384 additional pages across our publishing schedule.
Expanded Reporting and Diversified Coverage
This expansion is not merely cosmetic but reflects genuine growth in reporting capacity. We have transitioned from a limited reporting model to a multi-reporter newsroom. This includes the LJI reporter, and thanks to funds received under the Online News Act, we've added a second reporter hired directly by the paper while expanding our use of contributors.
These changes have enabled significant increases in story volume, diversified coverage, and improved consistency in our reporting. In 2025, we produced approximately nine to 12 core stories per issue. In 2026, that number has increased to between 16 and 21 stories per issue, representing a 60 to 90 percent increase in editorial output.
Transformation in Coverage Focus
Most importantly, the nature of our coverage has evolved substantially. Whereas our reporting a couple of years ago focused primarily on community events and features, we now consistently cover civic governance, economic issues, development decisions, institutional accountability, and regional matters. This shift aligns directly with the intended purpose of the Local Journalism Initiative program, ensuring that underserved communities receive the comprehensive journalism they deserve.
The transformation from a single-thread newsroom to a multi-reporter operation has created a newspaper capable of covering multiple issues simultaneously, providing our community with the depth and breadth of reporting essential for informed civic engagement. These federal policies have not only preserved local journalism but have actively restored and strengthened it in areas where it was most vulnerable.
