The state of news is constantly changing with the evolution of online news coupled with shrinking newsrooms.
To tackle this issue in an attempt to make coverage better for the Quinte community, next month, Journalism students at Loyalist College are hosting a forum aimed at starting a conversation with local news providers, community organizations and members of the community.
Journalism professor Andy Clarke said they think the state of local news in this region is worth talking about in an effort to make it better. “We want to hear – what do you think is working?” said Clarke. “What’s being done well? What isn’t working well?”
Clarke referred to a report released by Canada’s Public Policy Forum earlier this year that stated real news is in crisis and democracy is at risk.
“It’s a good starting point for the talk,” said Clarke.
The 108 page report entitled, ‘The Shattered Mirror: News, Democracy and Trust in the Digital Age,’ points out how “Canadians need and want real news to make educated decisions about their governments and to keep the powerful accountable. Without it, we’ll be in the dark about our communities and our country. Without it, democracy itself is at risk.” The report digs into the collapse of newspaper classified ads and the rise of digital advertising; how readers use Facebook and Twitter as their main way of accessing news and the emergence of “fake news” and “click bait.”
A key area touched on in the report that Clarke said is having a real effect on coverage throughout the Quinte Region is cutbacks and shrinking newsrooms.
Clarke said in many respects, the community is very well served in the Quinte region when it comes to local news. He pointed to how the area is lucky to have two locally owned radio stations, (Quinte Broadcasting and Starboard Communications), a daily newspaper (The Intelligencer), a local TV Station (Cogeco TV) along with many weekly newspapers that reach the north and south shores of Quinte.
Clarke said on top of getting their students and program involved in helping to build a better local news ecosystem, it will assist them in the work they do for the college’s QNet newsroom.
Quinte News will be represented at the forum along with many other local news providers.
It takes place on September 18 in the Kente Building at 7 p.m.
