Small and local news publishers in Saskatchewan say they’re feeling the pain of Meta’s decision to block news in Canada on their social media platform.
Kerry Benjoe is the editor of Eagle Feather News, a publication that focuses on providing news to First Nation and Métis communities.
Benjoe says they distribute 10,000 papers throughout province.
“A lot of those papers go into smaller communities and so we don’t distribute our papers into larger urban settings and that’s where social media played a really big role because there’s a limited amount of papers,” Benjoe told Stefani Langenegger, host of CBC’s The Morning Edition
The effects of the news block have been devastating, according to Benjoe, who hoped Eagle Feather News would be small enough to “slip through the cracks.”
Before it went into place, news stories would be posted on social media and then shared hundreds of times.
“So instead of 10,000, maybe we got 400,000 views. That was reaching audiences not just here in Saskatchewan, but nationally and worldwide. Some of our stories were read in areas like Switzerland and so to not have this access anymore, it’s really concerning.”
Saskatoon Morning8:04Meta’s decision to cut access to Canadian news stories is impacting small news outlets like Eagle Feather News
Candice Lipski talks with Kerry Benjoe, editor of Eagle Feather News, about Meta’s decision cut access to Canadian news stories on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
The federal government passed Bill C-18, or Canada’s new Online News Act, in June. It’s expected to take effect by the end of the year.
Once it does, the legislation would require companies like Meta and Google to pay media outlets for the news content shared on their platforms.
Earlier this month, social media giant Meta put their foot down and blocked news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.
News organizations — including CBC/Radio-Canada — have asked Canada’s Competition Bureau to investigate Meta’s decision to block Canadian news, calling it “anti-competitive.”
Audiences can still reach Canadian digital news directly — by going straight to news sites themselves, or using an app on mobile devices.
But for many outlets, which rely on the distribution of their stories on social media, the block has revealed a painful reality.
Kevin Weedmark is is the publisher of the Moosomin World-Spectator, a newspaper in the small town of fewer than 3,000 people located 225 kilometres east of Regina.
He says the most views they’ve ever gotten on Facebook is in the 300,000 range. Once the block came into affect views have dropped to around 60,000 and even lower.
“It’s obviously having a a significant impact and that’ll hurt our community and our our ability to to communicate with our community,” Weedmark told CBC earlier this week.
WATCH | Wildfire evacuees frustrated, angry at Meta’s Canadian news ban:
Fire evacuees say the block on Canadian news content on Facebook and Instagram makes it even harder to get crucial wildfire information. Many in Canada’s North rely on the platforms, and some are now looking for workarounds to share info.
Stephen Whitworth is the editor of the Prairie Dog and Planet S publications in Regina and Saskatoon.
He recalled thinking that Bill C-18 was more convoluted and more complicated than he would’ve liked.
“The principle of a bill that forces social media to pay news outlets like us, like larger outlets? That’s not only great that’s essential,” Whitworth said.
Whitworth feels the federal government is doing its best with this bill, even if it’s not perfect. He hopes they can reach some kind of deal soon.
Benjoe says her readers have been left confused by what is happening and are unsure who is at fault.
“This is just another hurdle we have to jump through just to get the news out there,” she said.
Weedmark says this isn’t a fight that many newspaper or publishers wanted.
He also doesn’t believe the federal government crafted an effective piece of legislation.
“If they gave you a choice of “would you like to spend hundreds of millions of dollars subsidizing not only publishers but broadcasters of all sorts, and which don’t even do news? Or would you like to just block their content and pay nothing? I think most people choose the same thing,” Weedmark said.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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