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OTTAWA — The Liberal government is extending a program that funds 400 local reporting jobs across the country.
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge says Ottawa will spend another $58.8 million to continue the Local Journalism Initiative until 2027.
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The program, which provides funding for news organizations to hire local reporters, was first established in 2019.
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The government says its journalists provide news coverage in underserved communities including Indigenous, official language minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
The funding is administered by not-for-profit organizations to protect the independence of the press.
The Canadian Press participates in the initiative through a contract with News Media Canada for editorial support and technical and delivery services.
News Media Canada is one of seven non-profits that administer the program. CP is not directly funded by the LJI and does not get LJI grant money for journalist positions.
A representative for CP participates on the panel that reviews applications for LJI grants administered by News Media Canada.
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