Skip to content

Brought to you by

Dentons Logo

Entertainment & Media Law Signal

Information and observation on the newest developments in entertainment and media law.

open menu close menu

Entertainment & Media Law Signal

  • Home
  • About Us

Parliament Undertaking Media and Local Communities Study

By Jamie Thomas
March 14, 2016
  • Publishing
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email Share on LinkedIn

Parliament is taking another careful look at the state of the country’s news media.

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is in the midst of at least ten meetings in which it will collect evidence on “how Canadians, and especially local communities, are informed about local and regional experiences through news, broadcasting, digital and print media.” The committee has already heard from a swath of witnesses ranging from government ministries and agencies like the Departments of Industry and Heritage, the CRTC and the Competition Bureau, industry stakeholders like the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and the Canadian Media Guild as well as a handful of journalism professors and industry observers.

As even the most casual observers of the news media well know, it’s ugly out there: the context of the committee’s investigation is a Canadian media space roiled by changing consumer habits and declining print media advertising revenues. As readers move online, it has become increasingly difficult to make a buck in the newspaper game – particularly for smaller, local papers. The Guelph Mercury, one of the oldest newspapers in Canada, printed its final edition a few weeks ago. This followed the shuttering of the 141-year-old Nanaimo News earlier this year. By one count, 22 newspapers have closed in the last five years.

This is not the first time that Parliament has taken a look at the news. As Jennifer Ditchburn has reported, at least four other federal studies have been undertaken on the country’s media – none of which, in Ditchburn’s view, led to significant action. Media outlets and content producers should, however, watch for the committee’s eventual recommendations so as to be better able to respond to potential regulatory consequences.

We invite you to return to the Signal for a follow-up post when the Media and Local Communities study is made public.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email Share on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay updated
Receive our latest blog posts by email.
Stay in Touch
Jamie Thomas

About Jamie Thomas

Jamie is a senior associate in Dentons’ Corporate, Securities and Corporate Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions practice groups. Jamie has a broad, transaction-based practice encompassing share and asset acquisitions and divestitures, corporate restructurings and fund formations. He also represents a range of clients, including publicly traded companies, private corporations, partnerships and not-for-profit organizations in the negotiation and preparation of complex commercial agreements.

All posts Full bio

RELATED POSTS

  • Publishing

In My Other Life, I’m a Superhero – Lawyers in Comic Books

One of the more charming aspects of practicing entertainment law is that the entertainment bar generally tends not to take […]

By Bob Tarantino
  • Publishing

e-books – Impact and Costs

Peter Nowak at the CBC recently had an interesting discussion with Kobo chief executive Michael Serbinis (Kobo is “a global eBook […]

By Bob Tarantino
  • Publishing

Reversion of Rights in Book Publishing Contracts

Rachelle Gardner has written a very clear post about the challenges posed by electronic formats to reversion of rights clauses […]

By Bob Tarantino

About Dentons

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Grow, Protect, Operate, Finance. Dentons, the law firm of the future is here. Copyright 2023 Dentons. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates. Please see dentons.com for Legal notices.
Producing in Canada

Categories

  • Announcements
  • Broadcasting
  • Contracts
  • Copyright
  • Defamation
  • Errors and Omissions Insurance
  • Fair Use/Fair Dealing
  • Financing
  • General
  • Generative Artificial Intelligence
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Publishing
  • Tax/Tax Credits
  • Television
  • Trademarks
  • Video Games

Subscribe and stay updated

Receive our latest blog posts by email.

Stay in Touch

Dentons logo in black and white

© 2023 Dentons

  • Legal notices
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of use
  • Cookies on this site