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Application Guidelines – Business Innovation

Canada Periodical Fund

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Objectives and expected results for the Canada Periodical Fund

The Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) provides financial assistance to Canadian print magazines, print community newspapers (non-daily) and digital periodicals, to enable them to overcome market disadvantages and continue to provide Canadian readers with the content they choose to read.

Objectives and expected results for the Business Innovation component

The Business Innovation component provides financial support to eligible small and mid-sized print magazine and digital periodical publishers. The component encourages innovation to adapt to changing market conditions and contributes to the diversity of content sought by Canadian readers.

The objectives are to:

  • support innovation and the use of new technologies;
  • strengthen the financial viability of Canadian print magazines and digital periodicals;
  • increase access to the market by Canadian print magazines and digital periodicals;
  • encourage the development of the next generation of Canadian periodical publishing professionals; and
  • enhance the diversity of titles and Canadian editorial content available to readers and advertisers.

Innovation may involve the adoption or use of new technologies, but can also involve changing your business model or adapting to changes in your environment, to deliver better products or services. Innovation generally refers to changing or creating more effective processes, products or ideas, to increase productivity, performance and sustainability.

Application deadline

September 15

Applications for projects starting in the current fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) will be accepted on an ongoing basis until September 15.

You should submit your application at least eight (8) weeks before the planned project start date.

When an application deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday, it is extended to the following working day.

Who can apply

Publishing firms producing printed paid or request circulation magazines and publishers of digital periodicals may submit an application.

Please note that a business number is required for funding applications to the Department of Canadian Heritage. For more information on how to register for a business number (BN), please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Eligible publishing firms

To be eligible for funding, your organization and any affiliated companies must:

  • be in operation throughout the application process and until the completion of the project;
  • be owned and controlled by Canadians;
  • be private-sector entities, including corporations, not-for-profit organizations, partnerships and sole proprietorships (Note: All applicants, including for Start Up Projects, must have a Business Number (BN)); and
  • have its principal place of business in Canada.

Eligible periodicals

Your print magazine or digital periodical must:

  • be edited, designed, assembled and published in Canada and have completed at least one uninterrupted 12-month publishing cycle before the time of application;
  • be published at the time of application, throughout the application process, and through the completion of an approved project;
  • contain an average of at least 80% Canadian editorial content in the issues published during the reporting period. Ethnocultural periodicals must contain an average of at least 50% Canadian editorial content in the issues published during the reporting period; and
  • contain an average of no more than 70% advertising in all issues published during the reporting period. Advertising content is calculated as a percentage of total content published. Note that advertorial and sponsored content are included in this calculation.

Print magazines must:

  • be printed and appear in consecutively numbered or dated issues published under a common title;
  • be published at a frequency of between two and 56 issues per year, including special issues;
  • have at least 50% paid or request circulation, or a combination of these equaling 50%. Indigenous, ethnocultural, official-language minority and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer or two-spirited (LGBTQ2) magazines must demonstrate paid or request circulation, but are not required to maintain the 50% threshold;
  • have an average circulation of no less than 250 and of no more than 100,000 copies per issue;
  • paid circulation magazines must:
    • have subscriptions sold at a minimum average subscription price of $12 per year; or at a minimum average subscription price of $1 per copy; and
    • have single copies and newsstand copies sold at a minimum average price of $1 per copy.

Indigenous, ethnocultural, official-language minority and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer or two-spirited (LGBTQ2) magazines are not required to meet the minimum average price criteria.

  • have either the subscription or the single-copy prices appear on the cover or in the masthead of the magazine; and
  • have a total average circulation of the magazine during the 12-month reporting period that does not exceed 100,000 copies per issue.

Digital-only periodicals must:

  • be available through a valid URL, an app for download, email format, or a third party publishing platform;
  • maintain a regular publishing schedule in which the majority of editorial content changes at least twice during a 12 month period;
  • contain over 50% original editorial content not syndicated or reproduced from another website, publication or previous issues of the same publication;
  • have articles date-stamped with identified authors;
  • maintain one of the following types of verifiable circulation over six months:
    • paid subscription service: priority will be given to periodicals that maintain an average of at least 250 subscribers;
    • email-based service: priority will be given to periodicals that maintain an average of at least 1,000 registered email recipients; or
    • open access-service: priority will be given to periodicals that maintain an average of at least 2,500 unique monthly visitors;
  • maintain an editorial function where the editor is named;
  • regularly present written editorial content from more than one person;
  • generate revenues (e.g. subscription revenues, advertising sales, etc.);
  • present a clearly displayed masthead or contact page that includes, at minimum, the names of the publisher and editor and how to contact the publication; and
  • have a total revenue of less than $500,000 for the publication.

Ineligible publications include:

  • newspapers (daily or non-daily, in print or digital formats);
  • blogs, or digital periodicals that are branded to an individual;
  • loose leaf magazines;
  • free print magazines;
  • digital periodicals published by daily newspaper publishers, book publishers, or broadcasters;
  • newsletters;
  • academic journals;
  • magazines or digital periodicals produced by or for an organization that report primarily on the activities, or promote the interests, of the organization;
  • magazines or digital periodicals produced under contract by a non-Canadian organization on behalf of a Canadian client, or produced under contract by a Canadian organization for a non-Canadian client;
  • magazines or digital periodicals produced by or for an organization providing goods or services, where the main goal of the magazine is to facilitate or promote the sales of such goods and services;
  • professional association periodicals;
  • magazines or digital periodicals produced by or for a government, a Crown corporation or a government agency;
  • magazines or digital periodicals whose editorial content is more than 50% reproduced or repeated from current or previous issues of the same publication or other publications;
  • magazines or digital periodicals with editorial content made up of more than 50% of the following, singly or in combination: listings, catalogues, magalogues, directories, guides, financial reports, schedules, calendars, timetables, comic books, cartoons, puzzles, games, horoscopes, or almanacs; and
  • magazines or digital periodicals that contain offensive content in the opinion of Canada Periodical Fund.

Eligibility

We are responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, its project and project-related expenses.

The Business Innovation component is highly competitive. Requests for funding typically exceed our available resources. If your organization is eligible, submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

Eligible projects

To be eligible for funding from the Business Innovation component, your project must:

  • be a new activity not repeated from previous Business Innovation projects designed to achieve specific goals with measurable results over a fixed time period of no more than 24 months;
  • be outside of and in addition to regular, recurring or ongoing operations, including editorial, production and distribution activities;
  • present a clear and compelling business rationale that identifies the business context and explains how the project is addressing business objectives; and
  • align with the objective of the Canada Periodical Fund, and at least one of the objectives of the Business Innovation component.

You may also consider applying for funding to undertake market research or to develop a business or marketing plan.

Some examples of eligible projects include:

  • new or improved business models, methods, or processes;
  • new or improved products or services;
  • new or improved systems or tools;
  • digitization of back issues;
  • rebranding or redesign;
  • a special issue outside of the regular publishing schedule;
  • adoption or use of new media;
  • mobile applications;
  • web design and development;
  • expansion into new markets; and
  • advertising and promotional campaigns.

We encourage applications for projects that explore export opportunities for Canadian publications, such as:

  • development and implementation of market development and branding strategies;
  • participation or attendance in trade fairs/shows and multilateral meetings and conferences;
  • technical training and trade seminars designed to prepare magazines (export readiness); and
  • technical support services and/or research which facilitate entry into markets.

Start-up projects

Aspiring or emerging publishers can apply for up to $5,000 in start-up funding to plan, launch or further develop a new company that publishes a digital periodical.

You will be required to cover at least 50% of total project costs through cash or in-kind contributions.

To be eligible, you must:

  • be a developing business that has not yet started, or that has been in operation less than 12 months;
  • meet all other Business Innovation eligibility criteria for publishers and digital periodicals, with the following exceptions:
    • have completed at least one uninterrupted 12-month publishing cycle ;
    • must demonstrate revenue; and
    • be published at the time of the application.

Please note that a business number is required for funding applications to the Department of Canadian Heritage. For more information on how to register for a business number (BN), please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website.

For more information or a copy of the start-up application form, please contact us.

Eligible expenses

Only project-related expenses, which can be of cash and in-kind value, are eligible; these may include:

  • venue and equipment rental;
  • specialized software licensing during the project period;
  • promotion and marketing costs;
  • professional fees (e.g. contractors, etc.);
  • training;
  • paid internships;
  • project-related travel expenses, which must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business;
  • project-related salary costs of employees of the organization (must be less than 25% of the total eligible project expenses); and
  • project-related overhead costs (e.g. mailings, courier, telephone long distance) limited to a maximum of 10% of the total recommended amount.

In-kind contributions are considered real contributions to the cost of the project, but are not reimbursable. Donated goods and services may be considered in-kind contributions if they:

  • are essential to your project’s success;
  • are eligible and would otherwise have to be purchased or paid for by you;
  • can be measured at fair market value (i.e. in relation to similar goods and services); and
  • are balanced by an equal revenue in your budget (i.e. total in-kind expenses equal total in-kind revenues).

We reserve the right to limit the amount claimed as in-kind contribution or to obtain independent appraisals to determine the value of in-kind contributions.

A salary paid to an individual working directly on the project is considered as a cash contribution.

Discounts from service providers or consultants are not considered as in-kind contributions.

Ineligible expenses include:

  • ongoing operating expenditures, such as editorial or production costs, salaries or wages not directly related to the project, or other routine or recurring activities (Note: editorial content creation within the regular scope of publishing is considered operational);
  • expenses for research or activities undertaken prior to the receipt of an application;
  • ongoing overhead expenditures (e.g. rent, insurance, utilities, etc.);
  • capital expenditures (e.g. computer or equipment purchase, etc.);
  • hospitality costs (e.g. meals and beverages served at an event, catering fees);
  • all costs related to awards, contests, sweepstakes, draws, incentives and prizes;
  • postage for Business Reply Mail;
  • exchanges of services (e.g. advertising swaps)
  • meals, incidentals, and per diems; and
  • project contingency funds.

We cannot fund expenses incurred before we receive your application. If you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Limits of government assistance

To ensure the success of your project, you are required to have other funding sources. This may include contributions from your organization, the private sector or other levels of government.

The total financial assistance received from the Business Innovation component and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed:

  • 75% of the total eligible project-related costs.

We can fund up to 75% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $50,000 per periodical, per government fiscal year. For projects spanning more than one government fiscal year (with a maximum of up to 24 months), the total requested amount cannot exceed $75,000. We reserve the right to limit the amount a publisher applying for multiple titles can receive.

For start-up projects, we can fund up to 50% of total eligible expenses to a maximum of $5,000 in total.

You can submit only one application to Business Innovation per periodical, per government fiscal year.

Applying for more than 12 months

You may request funding for a project spanning more than 12 months (up to a maximum of 24 months). You must then show that there is a need for a multi-year commitment and that you have the capacity to complete the project. This is demonstrated with a realistic project timeline and budget projections as well as sound governance.

How to apply

Read these Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application.

Contact the program for an Application Form.

You must apply using the paid circulation business model.

You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding. A complete application package includes the signed Application Form and the following supporting documents:

  • proof of legal status (for a first time applicant or incorporated in the year if applicable);
  • research that supports project activities;
  • quotes and résumés from consultants;
  • written confirmation of in-kind contributions to the project and other sources of funding, if applicable; and
  • not-for-profit organizations: A copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors in support of the project and identifying the authorized signatory.

Print magazines:

  • a digital copy of the latest edition of the printed magazine;
  • a circulation report or printing invoices that support the reported circulation information provided in the application for the declared reporting period. Publications that have 50% or more request circulation must provide circulation reports. We accept reports from the following audit circulation boards:
    • Canadian Circulations Audit Board, a division of BPA Worldwide;
    • Alliance for Audited Media; and
    • Canadian Media Circulation Audit.

Digital periodicals:

  • digital periodicals must be made fully accessible to us in order to determine eligibility. Digital periodicals must provide a clear explanation of the method used to determine the percentage of Canadian content reported in the application form;
  • analytics report – For web projects, we require an analytics report at the time of application and upon completion of the project. The report should capture the six-month period before the application date; and
  • digital periodicals must submit one of the following documents to support circulation levels declared in the application form:
Business model Circulation measure Supporting document
Paid subscription service Average number of paid subscribers over six months.

Declaration in application form.

Applicants must retain a copy of their subscribers list for five years in case we should conduct an audit.
Email-based service Average number of registered email recipients over six months.

Declaration in application form.

Applicants must retain a copy of the email recipients list for five years in case we should conduct an audit.
Open-access service Average number of unique monthly visitors over six months.

A valid report from a web auditing tool such as Google Analytics (free), Web Trends, or an accepted audit circulation board.

We reserve the right to refuse a report that is deemed unacceptable.
Third party platform Average number of unique downloads or views over six months.

A valid report from the service provider, or an accepted audit circulation board.

We reserve the right to refuse a report that is deemed unacceptable.

Application process

  • contact the program for an Application Form;
  • complete, sign and date the Application Form;
  • attach all the required supporting documents; and
  • submit your application through only one means (i.e. by email, by courier, etc.).

Mail, email, or in-person submissions

We encourage you to submit your application package electronically, at the following email address: fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund@pch.gc.ca.

The email must be sent no later than 11:59 p.m. local time on the date of the application deadline for your application to be considered.

You can also mail, courier or hand-deliver your complete application package to the headquarters of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Your application must be postmarked no later than the published deadline to be considered.

How applications are evaluated

We fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Your application will be evaluated based on the criteria below. It will be compared and prioritized with other applications in relation to the funds available.

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation of your new application and could result in a rejection of your new application.

Evaluation criteria

Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • how the project meets the objectives of the CPF, as well as the Business Innovation component;
  • applicant financial need for the project;
  • suitability of total project costs to the publisher’s scale of operations;
  • innovation involved in the project;
  • how the project can demonstrate short-term results, measurable improvement, added value from previous projects or activities, and/or a sustainable strategy;
  • involvement and assistance or financial commitment from other sources;
  • demonstrated capacity of the organization to undertake the project;
  • suitability of the budget to the scale of the project; and
  • clarity and relevance of expected results and performance measures, including indicators that will be used to assess the success of the project.

Application processing time

Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the Program.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks of receiving your application in our office.

Funding decisions

We determine funding amounts based on your financial need. Please note that decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

We will determine if funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution.

A grant is a payment issued to a recipient for a project. The conditions you agreed to at the time of application will apply. At the end of your project, you may be required to submit a report and/or participate in the evaluation of results.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by your organization and by us and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.

Funding conditions

You may be required to submit interim reports during your project and a final report is required if the funding is a contribution.

Additional conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in your funding agreement.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Official languages requirements

We are committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities and to promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official languages requirements set out in your application and in your funding agreement.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge – in English and/or in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Access to information requests

We are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting your funding application, you authorize us to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:

  • to reach a decision;
  • to evaluate the results of the project; and
  • to support transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program

We reserve the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. We also conduct periodic Program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.

You must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us:

Department of Canadian Heritage
Canada Periodical Fund – Business Innovation
25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Quebec
J8X 4B5

Email
fondsdesperiodiquescanada-canadaperiodicalfund@pch.gc.ca
Telephone
819-997-0055
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
TTY
1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET).

Glossary

Advertising
Includes paid advertising, contra or in-kind advertisements, native advertising and advertorials. Does not include charitable, public service, house advertisements, the masthead, or other non-revenue pages.
Advertorial content
Content of a periodical that promotes or presents the interests, opinions, services or products of an advertiser in a similar style, format and layout as the editorial content. Advertorial content is considered to be advertising.
Affiliated companies

Companies are considered affiliated if:

  • during their mandate, one or more employees, officers or directors of a company control the management or policies of another company;
  • the periodicals are owned and controlled by the same company; or
  • the company owns and controls at least 51% of the voting shares or assets of the other companies.
Articles of incorporation
A legal document filed with the federal, provincial or territorial government that sets out a corporation's purpose and regulations.
Audited financial report
An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard to the Project and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.
Audited financial statements
A complete set of financial statements including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Average circulation
The total number of copies circulated during the financial year divided by the total number of issues published during that financial year.
Business number (BN)
A Business Number is a unique 9-digit number assigned by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). A sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, trust or other organization must enter their Business number on the application form in "Publishing Firm Information" section. Register your business on the CRA website.
Business plan
A written document that describes your organization’s current status and plans for two to five years. It identifies future opportunities and includes the financial, operational and marketing strategies to achieve your goals.
Canadian ownership and control

An eligible publishing firm or periodical must be majority owned and controlled by a Canadian. For the program, “Canadian” means:

  • a Canadian citizen;
  • a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
  • a Canadian corporation;
  • a partnership, trust or joint venture in which a Canadian or permanent resident or any combination of Canadians and/or permanents residents beneficially owns and controls, directly or indirectly, interests representing in value at least 51% of the total value of the assets of the partnership, trust or joint venture, as the case may be. The president or other presiding officer, and more than half of the directors or other similar officers are also Canadians or permanent residents;
  • a not-for-profit organization in which at least 51% of its members and directors are Canadians or permanent residents.

If at any time one or more persons who are not Canadian have any direct or indirect influence through a trust, an agreement, an arrangement or otherwise that, if exercised, would lead to a control in fact of the publishing firm, the firm will no longer be recognized as Canadian-owned.

Canadian corporation
  • a corporation that is incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province or a territory;
  • a corporation whose principal place of business is in Canada;
  • a corporation whose president or other presiding officer, and more than half of the directors or other similar officers are Canadian citizens or permanent residents within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
  • a corporation, in the case of a corporation with share capital, of which Canadians beneficially own and control, other than by way of shares held only as security, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate at least 51% of all the issued and outstanding voting shares representing more than half of the votes; and
  • a corporation, in the case of a corporation without share capital, of which Canadians beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, interests representing in value at least 51% of the total value of the assets.

As an exception to the requirement for both Canadian ownership and Canadian control, publishing firms that are owned by Canadians and have operated in Canada as a publisher of periodicals for at least thirty years will be considered eligible even if they are not Canadian-controlled.

Cash flow
A presentation of all anticipated revenues and planned expenses that will occur over the length of your project. At the beginning of your project, your cash flow will have only forecasted revenues and expenses. Over time, your cash flow will be updated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses.
Circulation report
A circulation report issued by an accepted audit circulation board that reports on the volume of circulation by source, circulation type by breakout, locations of distribution and selling price for a magazine during a specific period.
Complimentary circulation
The number of copies distributed free of charge.
Controlled circulation
Copies distributed free of charge on a regular basis to consumers selected by the publisher.
Digital periodical
A digital periodical is defined as primarily text, photography, and illustrated editorial content accessible through a digital platform (e.g. a website, download, or email) and updated regularly under a common title and governed by an editorial function (editor).
Editorial content
The space in a periodical, excluding advertising and non-revenue pages, that consists of text, photographs, graphics and illustrations. For additional information, see the definition of Canadian editorial content.
Canadian editorial content
Editorial content (text, photographs, graphics, and illustrations) created or translated by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Translated editorial content by a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of this Act will be considered Canadian editorial content if the editorial content is translated into one of the two official languages. Translation does not modify the nature of the editorial content.
Editorial function/edited in Canada
The commissioning of editorial material and artwork, directing writers, illustrators and photographers regarding the final form of the material; laying out, copyediting; proofreading; and otherwise preparing the content for publication; must be done in Canada.
Ethnocultural communities
A group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage. For the purpose of this definition, ethnocultural communities include Canadians of diverse culture such as, but not limited to African, Arab, Asian, Latin American or mixed heritage.
Ethnocultural periodical
A periodical that primarily serves, or is primarily concerned with, a commonly recognized specific cultural or racially distinct community or specific linguistic group using a language other than English or French. An ethnocultural periodical may be published in any language.
Final financial report
A final financial report includes, as separate items, the budget as well as all of the revenues realized and expenditures incurred for the given period with regard to the Project being funded.
Final report
A final report is submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your final report needs to provide the results of the activities you have undertaken for the duration of your project and include a final report of actual revenues and expenses.
Fiscal year (of the Government)
Refers to the federal government fiscal year, which starts on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year.
Fiscal year (of the Publisher)
Refers to the publisher’s fiscal year, which covers a reporting period of 12 consecutive months.
Foreign editorial content
Editorial content (text and images) created or translated by a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. If the creator or translator is unknown, or if the citizenship cannot be determined, the editorial content is deemed foreign.
LGBTQ2 (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirited) periodical
A periodical that primarily serves or is primarily concerned with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirited communities.
Indigenous communities
Indigenous communities include First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
Indigenous periodical
A periodical that is primarily targeted to, concerned with and serving First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities.
Innovation

Innovation generally refers to changing or creating more effective processes, products and ideas to increase productivity, performance and sustainability. Innovation may involve the use of technology but, it can also involve changing your business model and adapting to changes in your environment to deliver better products or services.

Some examples of innovation are:

  • Product innovation (the what): developing new products and services and improving existing products and services;
  • Process Innovation (the how): developing new processes, methods and tools to reduce cost, create efficiencies, improve delivery and quality of products and services;
  • Market innovation (the who): extending market reach by modifying current offerings to reach new audiences and targeting audiences in new ways; and
  • Value innovation (the why): re-branding. Activities related to developing the organization’s brand.
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
An internationally agreed upon standard number that uniquely identifies a publication. It is assigned by the ISSN Network.
Interim reports
Interim reports are submitted during your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and updated revenue and expense reports.
Listings
A series of words, numbers, paragraphs, photos, or other items, which may include descriptions, opinions or analysis. Examples include stock listings, sports scores and standings, television listings, product descriptions and restaurant descriptions. Adding star ratings or other indicators to descriptive text does not constitute opinion or analysis.
Magazine
A print magazine is commonly recognized as a magazine that is paginated and bound, that appears in consecutively numbered or dated issues, that is published under a common title at regular intervals, and that may possess an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN).
Masthead
The section of a periodical that lists information on the staff, the publisher and the editorial board, and provides contact information.
Newsletter (for print magazines)
A print magazine scoring six or more points on the following scale is a newsletter and is not eligible under the Business Innovation component.
Specifications Points
1. No cover page – the articles start immediately 2
2. Unbound 2
3. Fewer than 20 pages 2
4. No table of contents 1
5. Does not list authors 1
6. No full masthead 1
7. No regular editorial columns or letters to the editor 1
8. Part of a continued series (volumes) 1
Total /11
Newspaper (for print magazines)
A print magazine scoring six or more points on the following scale is a newspaper and is not eligible to the Business Innovation component.
Specifications Points
1. Broadsheet format, tabloid format or outsized (larger than 8-1/2 x 11 inches) 2
2. Unbound 3
3. Printed on any type of newsprint 1
4. Identified as a newspaper (daily or non-daily) 1
5. Cover subdivided (articles, boxed photos) 1
6. Advertising on front cover 1
7. Divided into detachable regular sections, such as news, analysis, entertainment, sports 1
Total /10
Non-revenue pages
All pages other than advertising pages, contra or editorial. They can include self-promotional pages, pages donated to local charities or businesses, delivery of in-kind services, etc. Blank pages are considered non-revenue pages.
Offensive content

Periodicals or projects that, in our opinion, contain or promote any of the following:

  • material that is hate propaganda, obscene or child pornography, or any other illegal material, as defined in the Criminal Code;
  • pornography or other material having significant sexual content unless it can be demonstrated that there is an overriding educational or other similar purpose;
  • material that contains excessive or gratuitous violence;
  • material that is denigrating to an identifiable group; or
  • any other similarly offensive material.
Official-language minority communities
The official-language minority communities are the Anglophone communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.
Official-language minority periodical
A periodical that is published in English or French in a region of Canada where the language and content of the periodical primarily serves and is concerned with an official-language minority community (i.e. a French-language community outside of Quebec or an English-language community in Quebec).
Paid circulation
Copies of a magazine sold through subscriptions, single-copies/newsstand sales, and sponsored copies.
Professional association periodical

A periodical which meets all the following conditions:

  • is directly owned by an association;
  • membership in the association is necessary to maintain a professional status that is recognized by a federal or provincial statute; and
  • membership in the association includes paying professional dues that are deductible under subparagraph 8(1)(i) (i) of the Income Tax Act.
Publishing cycle
The number of issues of a periodical, pre-determined by the publishing firm, that are published during the 12-month financial year.
Registered email recipient
A person to whom an email message is sent directly and has previously agreed to be contacted to receive the content.
Request circulation (eligible copies)

Non-paid eligible copies of magazines that are individually addressed to recipients who have directly requested them from a publishing firm using written, telephone, email or fax requests.

Applicants under direct request circulation must provide 12-month circulation reports from an accepted audit circulation board.

Scholarly journal
A magazine, aimed at specialists, which presents results of research in a specific field for disseminating knowledge.
Special issue
  • is published within the regular publishing cycle, but is in addition to the regularly published issues for the year;
  • focuses on a specific theme or topic;
  • has a title and an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) common to the host periodical; and
  • has its cost included in the subscription cost of the regular publishing cycle.
Sponsored copies
Copies purchased by a sponsor for distribution to targeted consumers to increase its business relationship with the consumers.
Sponsored content
A specific and distinct section of content that is sponsored by a single advertiser. The sponsored content will often match the subject matter, as well as the targeted audience. Sponsored content is considered to be advertising.
Subscriber
An individual who has knowingly paid or undertaken to pay for a subscription to a periodical, to be delivered over a specified period.
Unique monthly visitor
Visitor of a website for which the number of visits of the same site, for 30 days, is counted only once. Sites often calculate unique visitors based on the Internet Protocol (IP) address information.
Volunteer
An individual working on behalf of others without receiving financial or material gain.
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