NB Update: What Comes After the Crisis in Local Journalism?

On this edition of the NB Update, we examine the growing crisis facing local journalism in Canada. That was the central focus of the Local News Matters symposium, a one-day event recently held at Mount Allison University in Sackville.

The numbers are stark. Over the past 15 years, communities across the country have been losing local news outlets at a rate that far outpaces the creation of new ones, especially in smaller, rural, and lower-income areas.

“At least 239 communities have experienced net losses—meaning more outlets have closed than opened—while only 76 have seen a net gain,” said April Lindgren, keynote speaker and journalism professor at Toronto Metropolitan University.

And for those communities that still have local media, the news isn’t much better. Lindgren noted that many surviving outlets are facing newsroom cuts and downsizing, leading to what she described as “a spreading blight” in Canada’s media landscape.

The rise of the internet has dramatically disrupted traditional revenue models for news organizations, while the dominance of social media platforms has left many people more exposed to unchecked rumours, disinformation, and propaganda. The situation has worsened in Canada following Meta’s decision to block the sharing of news links on Facebook and Instagram in response to federal legislation. This has further limited access to trusted local reporting.

In the face of these challenges, the symposium became a space not just for reflection, but for action. Attendees discussed creative ways to keep local journalism alive, sharing insights and solutions aimed at supporting independent, community-focused media.

The NB Media Co-op livestreamed both the keynote and panel discussions, helping extend the conversation beyond the room.

This extended edition of the NB Update features highlights from the event, including perspectives from Erica Butler, CHMA news director and symposium co-organizer; Bruce Wark, founder of The Wark Times; Ariana Hislop and Jaya Condran, editors with The Argosy, Mount Allison’s student newspaper; and Aiden Rayner, a student journalist with the Saint Croix Courier.

Together, these voices offered a grounded, hopeful look at what’s next for local journalism—from the importance of student reporting to the power of community radio, and the potential of co-operative media models.

The NB Update is a joint project of the NB Media Co-op and CHCO TV, dedicated to highlighting underreported stories across the province.

This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).