Local Journalism Initiative Impact

Impact Statement from NWO Voices (Jack Dawson, Laura Meuckon, Lyndon Hughes)

The Independent Journalist team at Northwestern Ontario Voices have begun the work of addressing many issues facing residents in the communities of Fort Frances, Kenora and Dryden; but the stand-out issue across the region is overwhelmingly homelessness and addiction.

Deepak Bidwai, LJI journalist and Barrie Community Media's sole reporter, has been diligently tracking the proposed alterations by the Barrie City Council, initiated unexpectedly on May 17th, to tackle the issue of chronic homelessness. Nonetheless, Barrie Community Media (BCM) highlighted that the proposed solutions do little to alleviate homelessness and instead aim to penalize average citizens with fines for aiding the homeless.

CHCO-TV can now say it is "big in Japan." The independent community television station based in St. Andrews, New Brunswick caught the eye of editors at Japan's Broadcasting Report Magazine who featured the TV station in an article about the power of community television and the involvement of young volunteers in the creation of local programming. Emilio, Oli, and Lukas, all high school students at Sir James Dunn Academy in St. Andrews, were featured in their article.

The series "Civic Platform" has given Winnipeg communities numerous opportunities over the past few months to have their thoughts heard publicly. including their challenges and their progress in helping the city's various immigrant communities.

ARICHAT - Veronica Merryfield remembers how it felt to be uncomfortable in her own body, and she is using platforms such as those provided by Telile Community Television to ensure that no one else has to experience the trauma she felt as a child in the United Kingdom. 

Télé-cœur et son fondateur, Stéphane Lévesque, ont été officiellement honorés à l’Assemblée nationale le 30 mai 2023, par le député de Nicolet-Bécancour, Donald Martel, pour leur apport à la communauté du Centre-du-Québec.

Télé-cœur - Initiative du journalisme local

Aux dires même du député provincial, Télé-cœur est devenu devenue une source incontournable d’informations locales. Stéphane Lévesque s’est dit ému par cet hommage, lui qui considère que son travail est des plus stimulant.

One of the first areas that the Local Journalism Initiative allowed was Neepawa’s NACTV to expand was into the adjacent municipalities, enabling the station to cover not only the municipal council meetings for Neepawa itself but also the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford and the Rural Municipality in Rosedale. Both municipalities have seen a rise in engagement over the past year thanks to LJI coverage of the issues that the respective Councils are tackling, bringing what was once behind closed doors in the Council chambers into the homes of residents.

As I write this report I took some time to ponder on the role of a journalist, specifically how rural communities can benefit from having access to the services of a journalist. A journalist can be defined as a person who is responsible for the collection and dissemination of news or information. Improvements in technology have led to an increase in the availability and consumption of media, yet there is a danger that much of the information being distributed might underline hidden agendas and lead to an increase in misinformation.

La persévérance de l’équipe journalistique de la Télévision communautaire des Érables (TVCE) a permis la diffusion en direct des séances de consultation publique sur l’éventualité d’une fusion municipale entre la Ville et de la paroisse de Plessisville. Refusée au début, les demandes de diffusions ont été approuvées par les maires concernés et ont eu un impact positif pour la population locale.

The series "Civic Platform" has given Winnipeg non-profit organizations numerous opportunities over the past few months to have their thoughts heard publicly, including their challenges and their progress in helping the city's various immigrant communities.

Medical assistance in dying has drawn attention to the inequalities in our society, as some living with a non-life threatening disability, experiencing poverty or unable to access housing are seeking MAiD. MAiD has been available to some Canadians since 2016. It was first legalized as a tool for those experiencing intolerable pain during the dying process, but in 2021 eligibility expanded.

The CAQ government KILLED Quebec’s social housing program, AccèsLogis. Montrealers are concerned for the future of social housing in the city, with nearly 24 thousand Montrealers on a waiting list to access social housing. At the same time, non-profit organizations are on the hook for bills required to complete housing projects under the old program.

Non-profit organization Brick by Brick, which builds affordable housing in Parc-Extension, told Local 514 they’re now on the hook for unpaid bills for social housing developments created under AccèsLogis.

ARICHAT - The third anniversary of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) at Telile Community Television gave TELILE 24/7 host Adam Cooke the chance to catch up with fellow participants under the auspices of the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies. 

Making her third consecutive annual appearance on TELILE 24/7, Vicki Hogarth of CHCO-TV in St. Andrews, New Brunswick was this time accompanied by Rrain Prior, the news director for Neepawa Access Community Television (NACT) in Manitoba. 

I have written a number of stories for the NB Media Co-op but one series in particular made an impact last October. 

We reported on Oct.11, 2022, that children of some international students enrolled in career colleges were being denied access to public school. 

We learned about the situation from Hola NB and Moncton Cares, two non-profits that support immigrants.

The Quebec government is opening a private-for profit investor owned facility in Montreal, which the government says will alleviate wait times in clinics and emergency rooms. But with profits over patients, can we really trust a facility owned by shareholders seeking a profit to aid our healthcare system?

CUTV's reporters has revealed many incidences of racism and other forms of oppression in Quebec's healthcare system to show Quebecer's that there is a strong need for the provincial government to admit that systemic racism exists in the healthcare system and to gather the political will to change policies and procedures in hospitals.

LJI Journalist Vicki Hogarth who is the News Director at CHCO Television in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal in recognition of her outstanding COVID-19 coverage for New Brunswick during the pandemic as well as for her dedication to providing local content to the underserved area of Southwest New Brunswick. 

During the long history of the Focus Media Arts Centre’s presence in Regent Park, we have been telling the stories of Regent Park. These stories recognize both the struggles and aspirations of generations of area residents, from newcomers, to seniors, to youth, Focus has provided an opportunity to share knowledge, connect with community, and to make a difference at both the local and broader levels of society: from community centre to City Hall.

Over the thirty year history of Focus Media Arts Centre, it has been the principle concern of the organization to chronicle the story of Regent Park. Through print, radio, and video  Focus Media Arts Centre has engaged with a range of diverse communities to promote inclusivity through the application of a socially just framework.

While not the only interview program on NACTV, the "Decision Makers" debuted in 2022 with the mission to sit down with some of the people who have a big influence on the day-to-day lives of community members to learn more about them, their perspective, and their thoughts on issues within the town. These people included members of the Town Council along with department heads, school board representatives, business leaders, and others.

In my program "Community Hour," I touch on various topics, but we are most often talking about immigration and adaptation to a new life in Canada. I am an immigrant, and I understand well how difficult it is to start life in a new country from scratch. I invite people to the studio to talk about their immigration journey, so based on their experience, they give valuable advice to newcomers.I've been working at a U-Multicultural Community Television for four months. I've noticed how much it means to the community during this time.

L'émission La Mouvée discute avec Gabrielle Samson des projets de Telile et des défis d'offrir du journalisme civique dans la région de Richmond avec les défis de logement abordable.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/la-mouvee/episodes/679512/rattrapage-du-mardi-10-janvier-2023

Over the past months, Civic Platform has provided many opportunities for communities in Winnipeg to make their voices heard widely. The program has covered their challenges and ways that they can improve their lives here. We have presented many helpful topics including, everything from mental health to home finances, from participating in sports for well-being and going to events to make connections and more. 

The Schreiber Media Centre, the area's local community television portal, found out its importance to the community last fall when it had to close down because of staffing issues. People really missed it. For nearly three years, the media centre had been growing in importance in the community. Starting out as a concept for developing media literacy through the local library, it soon grew in scope to include local journalism and it had become a bit of a fixture in town.

Barrie Community Media (BCM) has been impacting the local community in various ways including influencing local decision-makers by highlighting homelessness; generating dialogue about important civic issues; and strengthening the community by showcasing the diversity of the community.

Influencing local decision-makers - 

En septembre 2022, Dario Luzuriaga, un réalisateur et producteur journalistique international de télévision et radio, a rejoint l’équipe de la TVCÉ, pour produire les émissions de nouvelles Érable en bref et Érable approfondi.

Télévision communautaire de l'Érable - Initiative du journalisme local

PORT HAWKESBURY - In a milestone for Telile Community Television's participation in the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) as overseen by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS), the work of an LJI journalist was quoted extensively in a front-page story published by one of the longest-running weekly newspapers in Cape Breton Island. It was and is an important topic for Nova Scotians - the imposition of a carbon tax on petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and home heating oil.

WINNIPEG - U-Multicultural TV has recently hired Yuliia Kovalenko, who fled from Ukraine shortly after the war started. As a journalist, hired under he Local Journalist Initiative of Heritage Canada and run by Cactus (the Association of Community Television Users and Stations), she enhances the impact of local journalism in her new city of Winnipeg.

Télé-Cœur a tenu son assemblée générale annuelle le 29 novembre dernier. En plus d’y déposer ses états financiers, les administrateurs de cette télévision communautaire couvrant les MRC de Bécancour et de Nicolet-Yamaska et les communautés d’Odanak et de Wôlinak ont présenté un rapport d’activité d’une année 2021-2022 marquée par la production de contenu journalistique civique.

« Du 1er septembre 2021 au 31 août 2022, Télé-Coeur a été en ondes pour un total de 8 760 heures », indique le rapport d’activité.

Article dans le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse - le 2 décembre 2022

Gabrielle Samson est de retour dans sa communauté pour représenter la francophonie de son coin de pays. Cette Catou a récemment obtenu un poste à la télévision communautaire Telile qui lui a permis de revenir dans la région de Richmond. 

November 22, 2022

Sipisishk Communications has created the Treaty Ten News program to cover stories that reflect our daily lives and inform our region of the issues impacting the environment and social economic planning. The history of our communities and documenting the present as we play for our futures; a television program to share these stories on local television and to share on Youtube, Facebook and the CACTUS community media portal where we archive the news programmes and show the community of local stations our stories and perspectives. 

November 21, 2022

November 8, 2022

This year, for the civic election Tri-Cities Community TV (TCCTV) produced a series, of half-hour interviews with 40 candidates running for council positions in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody. For years voter participation in local elections has been low ( less than 30 % ); the interview series aimed to raise the profile of local elections and thus encourage increased voter turnout.

All videos were made available on TCCTV's Youtube Channel (tricitiestv) and the Local Media Portal funded by Heritage Canada.

En plus de couvrir les activités des candidats, la présente campagne électorale québécoise a « pimenté » de nombreuses émissions de la télévision communautaire des MRC Nicolet-Yamaska et Bécancour et des communautés abénakises d’Odanak et de Wôlinak.

Des enjeux comme la pénurie de main-d’œuvre et de logement, le soutien à domicile, l’environnement, l’âgisme, l’intégration des personnes immigrantes, les autochtones et la pauvreté y ont été abordés lors d’entrevues réalisées par des journalistes de l’Initiative de journalisme local (IJL) de Télé-Cœur.

Image: Schreiber residents enjoying the shores of Lake Superior.

August 22, 2022

Schreiber Media Centre has entered its 3rd year in the programme. This renewal helped to reinforce the commitment the media centre has in serving the community of Schreiber. As a journalist it is always nice to receive recognition for ones work as quite often we are unnoticed or even overlooked in the general scheme of things.

October 15, 2022 - It started with a few pointed questions to current Town Council members during their interviews with the new show The Decision Makers, and grew into a public conversation about how well the make-up of the Neepawa Town Council reflects the diversity of the community. NACTV continued to pursue the topic in on-camera conversations with local community members as well as in the community itself, digging into what barriers exist to broader participation in local politics.

October 15, 2022 - Barrie Community Media has been focusing on important civic issues related to women, minorities, environment, homelessness and drug crisis among others. Our coverage of these issues, constant presence at related events and interaction with leaders including Mayor Jeff Lehman has been increasing the discussion, influencing decision makers by keeping the pressure and strengthening the community. 

ARICHAT - While their relationships with Telile Community Television and Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) participant Adam Cooke predate the launch of the station's partnership with the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS), the Warden of Richmond County and the area's Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) are both grateful for the coverage each has received over the past two and a half years. 

ARICHAT - Nearly three decades after it set up shop as part of a strategy to revitalize an area devastated by the downturn in the Atlantic ground fishery, Telile Community Television is reaching far beyond its original coverage area as a result of its participation in the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) as administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS). 

On Sunday, June 27th, 2021, the graduation ceremony of Campobello Island Consolidated School was broadcast live on Charlotte County Television in order to facilitate COVID-19 restrictions and public guidelines.