TORONTO, October 1, 2018 – Today marks the start of National Newspaper Week and the launch of a new campaign to rally Canadians’ support for newspaper journalism—and the in-depth, credible, independent reporting that newspapers provide. The campaign, dubbed #NowMoreThanEver, is inviting Canadians to show their support for the news media industry at the newly launched newspapersmatter.ca.
“The role of newspapers has never been so crucial,” said Bob Cox, chair of the board of directors of News Media Canada, the national association that represents Canadian newspapers. “Every day, newspapers work to bring Canadians from coast to coast to coast real, trusted, truthful news—which is as vital to democracy as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.”
Recent research conducted last year found that 63 per cent of Canadians were unable to distinguish between legitimate news websites and fake news stories, and 65 per cent of Canadians are worried that false information or fake news is being used as a weapon.
Access to truthful news is under threat. For years, the credible, independent news reporting that newspapers provide has been funded by local and national advertiser support. But as readership moved online, Canadian brands and companies moved their advertising dollars to global conglomerates: 70 per cent of Canada’s online ad revenue goes to Facebook and Google—despite the fact that ads in either digital or print newspapers are the most trusted of all ad formats.
“Newspapers do not have a readership problem,” explains Cox, who points to recent research that shows that 8 in 10 Canadians—and 85 per cent of millennials—still read a newspaper every week.
This National Newspaper Week, Canadians are asked to simply sign a pledge of support at newspapersmatter.ca and send a message—to Canadian businesses, advertisers, to all levels of government, to newspaper journalists and all Canadians—that newspapers matter, now more than ever. The campaign includes print and digital ads running in newspapers across the country and is extending into social media, with a call-to-action that invites newspaper readers to share a photo of themselves with their favourite paper on their social channels—using #NewspapersMatter and #NowMoreThanEver.
National Newspaper Week in Canada runs from October 1 to October 7, 2018.
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About News Media Canada
News Media Canada is the voice of the print and digital media industry in Canada, representing hundreds of trusted titles in every province and territory. Created in late 2016 as a product of the agreement by its members to merge the Canadian Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, News Media Canada provides a range of services to its members, advocating on their behalf and increasing the profile of the industry with advertisers, government and other stakeholders. To learn more about the news media industry, visit www.newsmediacanada.ca, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or join our Facebook page.
For more information:
Bob Cox, Chair of the Board
Office: 204-697-7547
Mobile: 204-795-8148
John Hinds, President and CEO
(416) 923-0858
