Google Pledges $100M Yearly to Support Canadian Journalism

Toronto, ON — Google has announced its selection of the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC) to distribute the $100 million it has pledged annually to Canadian news organizations. This commitment aims to secure an exemption from the Online News Act, which mandates tech companies to negotiate agreements with news publishers.

The CJC, a federally incorporated non-profit established in May by a consortium of independent publishers and broadcasters, will ensure that eligible news outlets receive their portion of the funds. The steering committee comprises 12 independent media outlets, representing French language, community, Indigenous news, and publications serving Black and minority Canadians. Some members include Pivot, The Resolve, IndigiNews, Village Media, and the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations.

Sadia Zaman, the CJC’s independent board director, emphasized the collective’s dedication to fair and transparent funding distribution. “We look forward to working with the full diversity of the Canadian news ecosystem, including traditional print and broadcast organizations, and independent local news publishers, including those who serve Indigenous, Black, racialized, and Francophone communities,” she said in a statement.

The CJC will establish its governance structure in the upcoming weeks. The timeline for distributing funds to eligible news businesses remains uncertain, as it depends on Google receiving a formal exemption from the federal broadcast regulator. Google expressed optimism about the process, stating in a blog post, “We hope these next steps will be completed as quickly as possible, so Canadian publishers and journalists can soon begin to receive the proceeds of this new contribution model.”

Approximately 1,500 news outlets have applied for compensation under the Online News Act following Google’s open call earlier this year.

The CJC will review these applications and distribute funds to those meeting the criteria. Eligibility requirements include designation as a qualified Canadian journalism organization under the Income Tax Act, compliance with the Online News Act criteria, production of public interest news content, operation within Canada, and employment of at least two journalists.

Funding will be allocated proportionally based on the number of full-time journalists employed by each organization. Small print and digital outlets can expect around $17,000 per journalist, according to a Canadian Heritage Department official.

The Liberal government has set limits on how much the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and other broadcasters can receive. CBC/Radio-Canada will be capped at a $7 million share of the annual fund, with a total of $30 million reserved for all broadcasters. The remaining $63 million will be distributed among other qualifying news outlets, including newspapers and digital platforms.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge praised the initiative, stating, “Tech giants will be contributing their fair share — nothing more. Canadians expect a news landscape where we can get the facts when we need them.”

This significant funding initiative marks a crucial step in supporting the sustainability and diversity of Canada’s news ecosystem, ensuring a robust and inclusive media landscape.