Reimagining Canadian Journalism: A Case Study of News Startups in Montreal

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
Reimagining Canadian Journalism: A Case Study of News Startups in Montreal
Abstract
The author maintains that the Canadian journalism industry has been in a self-described crisis, partly of its own making, for arguably as long as it has existed. She notes that with each new technological advancement comes a new wave of self-doubt, and in the past five years, many legacy news outlets have turned to the federal government for financial help. At the same time, she further notes that a new crop of digital news startups has grown. Their numbers fluctuate, but at least 270 digital-first outlets existed in Canada as of 2023. These outlets tend to be more independent and less nostalgic about journalistic norms and traditions, forging new approaches to information gathering and sharing. The author also points out that as trust in news media has generally eroded, many news startups have responded by focusing on hyperlocal or niche information needs, and on direct audience engagement. Some are also exploring philanthropic funding opportunities or seeking out non-profit status, effectively turning the capitalist, ad-revenue-driven newspaper model on its head. Through a series of three 30- to 50-minute podcasts, three Montreal-based case studies – La Converse, The Rover and Pivot – are examined by the author to help answer the question: As Canadian legacy news media crumble, how will the new kids on the block respond? Two are French-language podcasts and The Rover is an English-language podcast. The author concludes that judging by interviews with the founders of the three news outlets, the next generation of journalism leaders value slowing down to conduct more long-form and investigative reporting; spotlighting voices that have been traditionally marginalized in the media; and, for some, favouring radical transparency over neutral objectivity.
Type
Master's Thesis
University
Concordia University
Place
Montreal
Date
2024
# of Pages
v-68p.
URL
Language
en
Citation
Botelho-Urbanski, Jessica. “Reimagining Canadian Journalism: A Case Study of News Startups in Montreal.” Master’s Thesis, Concordia University, 2024. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/994430/.
Find in a library
Permalink