AI plays both hero and villain in Canadian newsrooms, conference hears

OTTAWA–Artificial intelligence (AI) offers challenges and benefits as it weaves its way into Canada’s newsrooms, according to a panel session at an international communications conference. The Canadian chapter of the International Institute of Communications (IIC) sponsored a discussion on AI and the Future of Canadian Newsrooms. Moderator Kelly Wilhelm got the ball rolling by asking panelists if AI represents the apocalypse or opportunity. They replied it was both. “There’s certainly opportunity and there’s a high potential for apocalypse,” began Troy Reeb, former co-CEO of Corus Entertainment Inc. Fake news stories have the ability to undermine serious journalism, he opined. But on the other hand, AI permits reporters to look at multiple sources quickly, thereby alleviating the usual constraint on resources. Toronto Metropolitan University’s April Lindgren compared the adoption of the new technology with the advent of television and the internet. These early adopters didn’t know how to handle the mediums, falling back on models from older media, she said. “I think we’re still at the very early stages of figuring out how we can use AI to better journalism,” Lindgren stated Sonia Verma leads the Newsroom Innovation Initiative for the International News Media Association. She concedes much material currently on display is harmful, but there is a potential for good as well. Consumers can personalize their content, getting access to what is relevant to them. “It’s really a golden age for news in some ways because never before have we had so many options,” she asserted. Howard Law, author of the MediaPolicy blog, suggested both newsrooms and their customers must adopt the emerging technology. When that happens, there will be opportunities for innovation, he added. He pointed to Village Media, a series of community websites headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. It has partnered with OpenAI to put a chatbot on its sites where readers can access health information. Village Media will ultimately monetize this to sell advertising. Law found it telling that it was a community site, rather than a national outlet, which hit upon the idea. Lindgren and Velma noted that current usage of AI tends to be limited to things like translation, transcription and metadata, tasks consumers are happy to offload. That will change in the years to come. Reeb said the old model required creation of content to lure users to advertisers. That is no longer the case. “Who creates the content on Meta? The users,” he offered. “Who creates the content on Google? The algorithms. “How can you compete with that?” He called for the government to step in to regulate the large tech monopolies. That brought a quick response from a fellow panelist. “I’m so delighted to find Troy on my left when it comes to regulation,” Law, a former organizer with the Unifor union, laughed. “It doesn’t really matter how great an innovator you are if you can’t monetize your innovation.” He stressed he does not want to see the government regulate journalists. Reeb called on government, the education sector and corporate entities to work together to teach digital literacy to Canadians. Although we have one of the highest education populations in the world, true understanding of the impact of artificial intelligence is lacking, he maintained. Lindgren stated that her school has been working with Quebec universities Concordia and Laval to use AI to study local news markets. Once the metadata has been assembled, human verifiers check it out, deleting outlets that should not qualify and including those which were overlooked initially. The conference, at the National Arts Centre, concludes Tuesday. ppark@thewirereport.ca

AI plays both hero and villain in Canadian newsrooms, conference hears

Regulatory |
By Paul Park
|October 20, 2026

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

AI plays both hero and villain in Canadian newsrooms, conference hears

Regulatory | By Paul Park |October 20, 2026

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Market response to wholesale network access has been ‘encouraging’: CRTC chair

Former CUSMA negotiator warns of ‘challenging’ future for Canada-U.S. digital trade

Telus asks CRTC to review MVNO decision

Related Stories

Senators, experts push for public ownership of digital industries, AI data centres

Disguise Canadian? Feds frame U.S. chatbot contracts as Ottawa-based procurement

OPINION: The CRTC needs a plan for fake public opinion

Solomon addresses AI concerns as protester hits stage at conference

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Regulatory |
By Paul Park
|October 20, 2026