IMAC releases report on federal support for Indigenous journalism

The Indigenous Media Association of Canada (IMAC) has issued a survey looking at the future of federal government support for Indigenous journalism, broadcasting and publishing. The report was commissioned by Canadian Heritage to provide in-depth information on the current state of the industry. The study has five central findings: Indigenous media is essential community infrastructure; Indigenous media groups are asked to build long-term relationships with short-term funding; participation and growth are limited by administrative complexity; Indigenous media is evolving faster than government funding programs; and media sovereignty needs Indigenous leadership. The report also makes five recommendations: Canadian Heritage should invest in long-term sustainability; funding programs should be modernized; administrative barriers should be reduced; investments should be made in digital, technological and language infrastructure; and the department should establish ongoing Indigenous-led partnership mechanisms. The study was conducted between May and June of this year using Zoom. There were five sessions, four in English, and one in French. A total of 42 participants took part representing nine provinces and two territories; only Prince Edward Island and the Yukon were absent. There was a broad range of participation, including First Nations, Inuit, and Metis participants, as well as representatives from urban, rural, and northern locales The survey finds that Indigenous people are heavy social media users. “Digital media consumption amongst Indigenous audiences continues to be among the highest in the country,” the report states. “This demonstrates the need for Indigenous media organizations to work in a multi-modal, contemporary manner to reach Indigenous audiences.” Participants felt Indigenous media offers perspectives the mainstream media does not. “We fill the niche of ‘positive’ and ‘good’ news stories that mainstream overlooks simply because of shrinking newsrooms,” one respondent is quoted as saying during a discussion on the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI). In 2024-25, the LJI funded 209 journalists in 134 Indigenous news organizations. But executives are unable to plan for the future due to the application cycle of the program. In addition, the program only funds journalists. Technical support like editing, graphics and other broadcasting staples is not included. A session on Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting (NAB) heard about a radio broadcaster who produces segments in English and Cree on health topics, using the Indigenous medicine wheel as a focus. Although only five to seven minutes long, the pieces required hours of research that was not financially supported. NAB funding has been unchanged since 1997, the report noted. Publishers also reported a cash crunch. The federal Aid to Publishers fund distributes $70.3 million annually, but only 11 Indigenous publishers saw any money, representing slightly more than one per cent of the total disbursements. Participants called on the government to fund digital infrastructure to advance archive preservation. Many stories told by elders are stored on aging physical media. These could be lost to posterity if something is not done. IMAC says that in the coming weeks it will issue further data on LJI, NAB, and the Canada Periodical Fund. ppark@thewirereport.ca

IMAC releases report on federal support for Indigenous journalism

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By Paul Park
|October 8, 2026

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IMAC releases report on federal support for Indigenous journalism

Broadcast | By Paul Park |October 8, 2026

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By Paul Park
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