Several newspapers in the province of Quebec have banded together to ask that the government set up a fund to help them shift to digital, reports Canadian Press. The newspapers are suffering from a steep decline in revenues, because so many advertising dollars are going to social media platforms. The province’s most widely-read daily, La Presse went digital in December 2015.
The coalition of 146 newspapers would like the provincial government to set up a five-year financial assistance program and for it to abolish the sales tax which is just under 10 per cent. It also wants the government to increase its budget for advertising in newspapers.
The coalition notes that countries like Finland, Norway, Sweden and France have programs to support their papers. It argues that newspapers are “vital to preserving the diversity of media voices.”
Heritage minister urges media to adapt
The federal government’s heritage minister has urged all media to adapt to the digital age. The public broadcaster, CBC-Radio-Canada, has made this a priority and has launched multiple online services. Radio Canada International stopped its shortwave broadcasts and went exclusively digital in 2012.
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