Facebook partners with Canadian Press on reporting initiative

Through an agreement with the Canadian Press, Facebook will provide $1 million toward a one-year fellowship initiative. The news agency will hire, train, equip and provide salary and benefits for eight reporters. The program will run across all of CP’s newsrooms from Vancouver to Halifax. The jobs are expected to be in place by the fall. Articles written by the new hires will include a credit line at the bottom stating that the content was funded by the fellowship. Facebook has contributed to Canadian journalism through various programs over the years, with investments totalling nearly $9 million. Past initiatives include news incubator and training programs. However, some of Canada’s media industry has called on more accountability from the social media giant, including asking Facebook to be subject to different tax laws or revenue sharing.

Junos set a date for digital ceremony

After cancelling the live component of this year’s event, the Junos have set a date for a virtual presentation. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and its broadcasting partner CBC have set the date for Monday, June 29 at 7 p.m. ET. It will stream for free on CBC Gem, as well as on CBC Music’s digital and social properties. Awards will be unveiled, while audiences will also experience performances by artists such as Neon Dreams, the Dead South and Indigenous artist Iskwē. Presenters will include Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung, basketball star Chris Boucher, singer Jessie Reyez and more. Sponsor activations still going forward include TD, which once again sponsors the Juno Fan Choice Award and Jackson Triggs, which will gift all nominees with wine packages as the ceremony’s official wine partner.

Broadcasting Act to be updated in fall

A modernized Broadcasting Act will be tabled as early as the fall, confirmed the Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault. The announcement was made during the Banff World Media Festival’s virtual BANFF Day. He said the current pandemic has altered the timeline for new legislation around the broadcasting and telecommunications acts, but that a new act will be tabled before the end of 2020. It won’t follow all the recommendations set out in January’s legislative review report, but it will look into items such as giving the CRTC more regulatory power, reinstating terms of trade and ensuring web giants pay fairly into the system.