Does the state have any business in the newsrooms of the nation?

The Feb. 27 federal budget pledged $10 million a year for five years to support local news media.

That was $10 million too much, according to some. Others say not enough. News Media Canada has been asking for $350 million in a revamped Canadian Periodical Fund.

National Post columnist Andrew Coyne, who slams the idea of government support for media, and Bob Cox, publisher of The Winnipeg Free Press and chair of News Media Canada, square off on April 17 in Ottawa. Susan Harada, head of the journalism program at Carleton University, will be moderator.

Admission is free to this event organized by the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom in collaboration with Canada 2020 and with the support of Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

If you’d like to get tickets for this event, please click here.