Local Journalism Initiative

From: Canadian Heritage

On March 1, 2024, Canadian Heritage announced a $58.8 million investment to extend the Local Journalism Initiative for the next three years (2024-27). Learn more about this announcement: Support for independent local journalism because you deserve to know.

The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

Funding is available to eligible Canadian media organizations to hire journalists or pay freelance journalists to produce civic journalism for underserved communities.

The content produced will be made available to media organizations through a Creative Commons license so that Canadians can be better informed.

Program administration

To protect the independence of the press, 7 not-for-profit organizations representing different segments of the news industry will administer the Initiative. These organizations will give funding to Canadian media organizations to address the need for local civic journalism in underserved communities.

Who can apply

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must be:

  • a press agency;
  • a private news organization; or
  • a non-profit news organization.

Private non-community broadcasters and the CBC/Radio-Canada are not eligible.

Organizations must also operate in the following fields:

  • written press
  • community radio
  • community television
  • online news services

The objective must be to increase local civic journalism in underserved communities.

How to apply

Interested organizations are invited to contact directly the appropriate industry organization or visit their website for details.

Delivery organizations

Contact us

For questions related to the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI), please contact the appropriate delivery organization.

For general questions about LJI, please contact:

Address

Periodical Publishing Policy and Programs Directorate
Department of Canadian Heritage
25 Eddy St 25-8-U
Gatineau QC  J8X 4B5

Email
PCH.fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund.PCH@canada.ca
Telephone
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
TTY
1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (ET).

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