The design and launch of the Community Media Portal has been funded by the Local Journalism Initiative (the LJI) of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Under the LJI, over 100 journalists have been placed in underserved communities and asked to produce civic content that underpins Canadian democratic life.
On this page, LJI journalists share stories about the impact their content is having on the democratic life of their communities. If you would like to comment on a story you have seen on the Portal or on its impact, please Log In or Register for an account.
"Canada-Africa: Bridging the Trade Horizons," aired about two weeks ago, and the response from our viewers has been nothing short of phenomenal. We're thrilled to share with you the highlights and the overwhelmingly positive feedback that has poured in.
My name is Gabriel Meissner, and I am a student from the Humber College Film Program. I became a volunteer at Focus Media Arts in April, for my internship, where I would record various events (SDP meeting, Regent Park police quarterly meeting, Art Heart celebration, etc.), co-host a podcast about news on the Toronto East Side, and conduct interviews. In mid-May, I made a video about the Allan Gardens Encampment, and the neighborhood petition to have it removed.
ST. ANDREW'S, NEW BRUNSWICK - There might not seem to be much in common between the southern Cape Breton region of Isle Madame and a New Brunswick community that counts Grand Manan Island and Campobello Island among its points of interest.
But those involved with the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) at Telile Community Television in Arichat, N.S. and CHCO-TV in St. Andrews, N.B. see it differently - and they have been working cooperatively since early 2021 to show their viewers the ties that bind these two seemingly-disparate Maritime regions together.
ARICHAT - The Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso is no stranger to the Telile Community Television headquarters in Arichat, particular since the station's participation in the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) program dovetails with Mike Kelloway's entire political career and covers nearly the same four-year period.
Deux récentes entrevues ont secoué la communauté du Rocher-Percé, révélant les avancées surprenantes de l'intelligence artificielle (IA) et son potentiel pour la Gaspésie. Ces entretiens ont ouvert les yeux des résidents sur la manière d'utiliser l'IA au quotidien, notamment dans le domaine de la rédaction de textes.
Télévision du Rocher-Percé - Initiative du journalisme local
The Arctic Winter Games 2023 were hosted in Wood Buffalo/ Fort McMurray Alberta, after a postponement due to the pandemic. The congregation of circumpolar communities and nations, to engage in sport and cultural activities, is hosted every 2 years in various communities and is governed within the international Arctic Council. The local journalist and two young volunteers attended the opening ceremonies and some of these world class events.
Once upon a time in the vibrant city of Winnipeg, a tight-knit Ukrainian Canadian community thrived amidst a multicultural tapestry. This community was known for its rich cultural heritage, but there was something missing - the lack of a platform to express themselves in their native Ukrainian language.
U Multicultural believes in the power of language to connect communities. Thanks to that the Ukrainian Canadian community finally had a space to share their stories, history, and experience in Ukrainian.
"Community Hour" embarked on a mission to empower local communities through media. Recognizing the importance of giving a voice to the people, Community Hour organized media training sessions for community members, teaching them the skills needed to operate cameras, write engaging introductions and interview questions, and creating their own programs.
The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, and journalists and researchers are now tasked with understanding the lessons of this traumatic collective experience.
During the last quarter, the NB Media Co-op produced a half-hour talk show — part of our NB debrief series — that examined a disturbing aspect of Canadian society thrust into the spotlight by the pandemic: the crisis in long-term care.
One researcher who shared her expertise with us has linked more than 22,000 COVID-19 deaths to residential care facilities in Canada.
By producing content that resonates with the community, "Random Acts of Rural" has fostered a sense of connection and belonging among our audience. The show's focus on rural areas has shed light on the unique stories, challenges, and triumphs of the local population, igniting a newfound appreciation for rural communities and their contributions.
Dryden hosted an event to address the implications of the proposed nuclear waste storage facility coming to the region. This presentation offered a platform for experts and community members to engage in meaningful discussions about the negative aspects of nuclear waste. Organized by the Nuclear Free North Alliance, the event aimed to enhance understanding of the complexities surrounding radioactive waste and facilitate informed decision-making on nuclear waste management.
On May 5th, communities across Canada came together to mark MMIWG (Missing and Murders Indigenous Women and Girls) Day. In Fort Frances, the Rainy River First Nation hosted the event which started with a drum ceremony at the Rainy River First Nation Band office, followed by a march along the highway, taking the crowd to the Rainy River First Nations Pow Wow grounds.
Fred Alvarado
Dimitrije Martinovic
Impact Statement from NWO Voices (Jack Dawson, Laura Meuckon, Lyndon Hughes)
The Independent Journalist team at Northwestern Ontario Voices have begun the work of addressing many issues facing residents in the communities of Fort Frances, Kenora and Dryden; but the stand-out issue across the region is overwhelmingly homelessness and addiction.
Deepak Bidwai, LJI journalist and Barrie Community Media's sole reporter, has been diligently tracking the proposed alterations by the Barrie City Council, initiated unexpectedly on May 17th, to tackle the issue of chronic homelessness. Nonetheless, Barrie Community Media (BCM) highlighted that the proposed solutions do little to alleviate homelessness and instead aim to penalize average citizens with fines for aiding the homeless.
CHCO-TV can now say it is "big in Japan." The independent community television station based in St. Andrews, New Brunswick caught the eye of editors at Japan's Broadcasting Report Magazine who featured the TV station in an article about the power of community television and the involvement of young volunteers in the creation of local programming. Emilio, Oli, and Lukas, all high school students at Sir James Dunn Academy in St. Andrews, were featured in their article.
The series "Civic Platform" has given Winnipeg communities numerous opportunities over the past few months to have their thoughts heard publicly. including their challenges and their progress in helping the city's various immigrant communities.
ARICHAT - Veronica Merryfield remembers how it felt to be uncomfortable in her own body, and she is using platforms such as those provided by Telile Community Television to ensure that no one else has to experience the trauma she felt as a child in the United Kingdom.
Télé-cœur et son fondateur, Stéphane Lévesque, ont été officiellement honorés à l’Assemblée nationale le 30 mai 2023, par le député de Nicolet-Bécancour, Donald Martel, pour leur apport à la communauté du Centre-du-Québec.
Télé-cœur - Initiative du journalisme local
Aux dires même du député provincial, Télé-cœur est devenu devenue une source incontournable d’informations locales. Stéphane Lévesque s’est dit ému par cet hommage, lui qui considère que son travail est des plus stimulant.
One of the first areas that the Local Journalism Initiative allowed was Neepawa’s NACTV to expand was into the adjacent municipalities, enabling the station to cover not only the municipal council meetings for Neepawa itself but also the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford and the Rural Municipality in Rosedale. Both municipalities have seen a rise in engagement over the past year thanks to LJI coverage of the issues that the respective Councils are tackling, bringing what was once behind closed doors in the Council chambers into the homes of residents.
As I write this report I took some time to ponder on the role of a journalist, specifically how rural communities can benefit from having access to the services of a journalist. A journalist can be defined as a person who is responsible for the collection and dissemination of news or information. Improvements in technology have led to an increase in the availability and consumption of media, yet there is a danger that much of the information being distributed might underline hidden agendas and lead to an increase in misinformation.
La persévérance de l’équipe journalistique de la Télévision communautaire des Érables (TVCE) a permis la diffusion en direct des séances de consultation publique sur l’éventualité d’une fusion municipale entre la Ville et de la paroisse de Plessisville. Refusée au début, les demandes de diffusions ont été approuvées par les maires concernés et ont eu un impact positif pour la population locale.
The series "Civic Platform" has given Winnipeg non-profit organizations numerous opportunities over the past few months to have their thoughts heard publicly, including their challenges and their progress in helping the city's various immigrant communities.
Medical assistance in dying has drawn attention to the inequalities in our society, as some living with a non-life threatening disability, experiencing poverty or unable to access housing are seeking MAiD. MAiD has been available to some Canadians since 2016. It was first legalized as a tool for those experiencing intolerable pain during the dying process, but in 2021 eligibility expanded.
The CAQ government KILLED Quebec’s social housing program, AccèsLogis. Montrealers are concerned for the future of social housing in the city, with nearly 24 thousand Montrealers on a waiting list to access social housing. At the same time, non-profit organizations are on the hook for bills required to complete housing projects under the old program.
Non-profit organization Brick by Brick, which builds affordable housing in Parc-Extension, told Local 514 they’re now on the hook for unpaid bills for social housing developments created under AccèsLogis.
ARICHAT - The third anniversary of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) at Telile Community Television gave TELILE 24/7 host Adam Cooke the chance to catch up with fellow participants under the auspices of the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies.
Making her third consecutive annual appearance on TELILE 24/7, Vicki Hogarth of CHCO-TV in St. Andrews, New Brunswick was this time accompanied by Rrain Prior, the news director for Neepawa Access Community Television (NACT) in Manitoba.
I have written a number of stories for the NB Media Co-op but one series in particular made an impact last October.
We reported on Oct.11, 2022, that children of some international students enrolled in career colleges were being denied access to public school.
We learned about the situation from Hola NB and Moncton Cares, two non-profits that support immigrants.
The Quebec government is opening a private-for profit investor owned facility in Montreal, which the government says will alleviate wait times in clinics and emergency rooms. But with profits over patients, can we really trust a facility owned by shareholders seeking a profit to aid our healthcare system?
CUTV's reporters has revealed many incidences of racism and other forms of oppression in Quebec's healthcare system to show Quebecer's that there is a strong need for the provincial government to admit that systemic racism exists in the healthcare system and to gather the political will to change policies and procedures in hospitals.
LJI Journalist Vicki Hogarth who is the News Director at CHCO Television in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal in recognition of her outstanding COVID-19 coverage for New Brunswick during the pandemic as well as for her dedication to providing local content to the underserved area of Southwest New Brunswick.
During the long history of the Focus Media Arts Centre’s presence in Regent Park, we have been telling the stories of Regent Park. These stories recognize both the struggles and aspirations of generations of area residents, from newcomers, to seniors, to youth, Focus has provided an opportunity to share knowledge, connect with community, and to make a difference at both the local and broader levels of society: from community centre to City Hall.
Over the thirty year history of Focus Media Arts Centre, it has been the principle concern of the organization to chronicle the story of Regent Park. Through print, radio, and video Focus Media Arts Centre has engaged with a range of diverse communities to promote inclusivity through the application of a socially just framework.
While not the only interview program on NACTV, the "Decision Makers" debuted in 2022 with the mission to sit down with some of the people who have a big influence on the day-to-day lives of community members to learn more about them, their perspective, and their thoughts on issues within the town. These people included members of the Town Council along with department heads, school board representatives, business leaders, and others.
In my program "Community Hour," I touch on various topics, but we are most often talking about immigration and adaptation to a new life in Canada. I am an immigrant, and I understand well how difficult it is to start life in a new country from scratch. I invite people to the studio to talk about their immigration journey, so based on their experience, they give valuable advice to newcomers.I've been working at a U-Multicultural Community Television for four months. I've noticed how much it means to the community during this time.
L'émission La Mouvée discute avec Gabrielle Samson des projets de Telile et des défis d'offrir du journalisme civique dans la région de Richmond avec les défis de logement abordable.
Over the past months, Civic Platform has provided many opportunities for communities in Winnipeg to make their voices heard widely. The program has covered their challenges and ways that they can improve their lives here. We have presented many helpful topics including, everything from mental health to home finances, from participating in sports for well-being and going to events to make connections and more.
The Schreiber Media Centre, the area's local community television portal, found out its importance to the community last fall when it had to close down because of staffing issues. People really missed it. For nearly three years, the media centre had been growing in importance in the community. Starting out as a concept for developing media literacy through the local library, it soon grew in scope to include local journalism and it had become a bit of a fixture in town.
Barrie Community Media (BCM) has been impacting the local community in various ways including influencing local decision-makers by highlighting homelessness; generating dialogue about important civic issues; and strengthening the community by showcasing the diversity of the community.
Influencing local decision-makers -
En septembre 2022, Dario Luzuriaga, un réalisateur et producteur journalistique international de télévision et radio, a rejoint l’équipe de la TVCÉ, pour produire les émissions de nouvelles Érable en bref et Érable approfondi.
Télévision communautaire de l'Érable - Initiative du journalisme local
PORT HAWKESBURY - In a milestone for Telile Community Television's participation in the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) as overseen by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS), the work of an LJI journalist was quoted extensively in a front-page story published by one of the longest-running weekly newspapers in Cape Breton Island. It was and is an important topic for Nova Scotians - the imposition of a carbon tax on petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and home heating oil.
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