After the provincial government announced a few weeks ago it was launching a “digital” buy local advertising campaign that included paying for radio and billboard ads, but made no mention of supporting Manitoba’s print media outlets, it’s now allocating advertising dollars to dozens of community newspapers.
In the wake of U.S. president Donald Trump’s repeated threats to make Canada America’s 51st state and impose economically damaging tariffs on the country, the province launched a campaign to encourage Manitobans to spend their money on local businesses and on Canadian products as the country heads into uncertain and assumedly painful economic times.
The province spent a portion of its reportedly $140,000 advertising budget for its buy local campaign on Meta platforms, Facebook and Instagram, according to the Canadian Press, raising concerns from critics about the decision to support American multi-billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, who owns both platforms, has aligned himself with Trump and announced earlier this year that Facebook will no longer fact-check content.
There were 49 print media outlets in Manitoba in 2023, according to AdCanada Media, an agency that places advertising in over 900 newspapers across Canada. A spokesperson for the agency said the provincial government bought advertising for its buy-local campaign in 27 newspapers across the province.
“Through AdCanada Media / MCNA (Manitoba Community Newspapers Association), the Government of Manitoba placed a quarter-page ad for their shop local campaign in 27 local community newspapers throughout Manitoba,” said the spokesperson.
Community newspapers are locally owned businesses that employ Canadians, support democratic inquiry and debate, provide sponsorship or in-kind support to the rural communities they serve and act as advertising conduits to help drive dollars to local businesses.
Supporting local, independent media outlets is more important than ever since Trump came to power. Just last week, Trump “indefinitely” barred Associated Press reporters from the White House Oval Office and Air Force One, accusing AP of “dishonest” reporting; Trump did not like the 175-year-old American news wire agency referring to the formerly named Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump had unilaterally changed to the Gulf of America.
And as he was telling reporters last Thursday there’d be a “staggering amount” of money arising from his tariffs, Trump unexpectedly slammed American broadcaster CNN (Cable News Network), saying “CNN has no credibility.”
Trump’s administration is threatening American public broadcasting outlets, too. In January, the 10-day old administration ordered an investigation of PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and NPR (National Public Radio) for allegedly violating federal law by airing commercials.
Trump is well known for his dislike of fact-checking, liberal media outlets, and his attempts to sideline them are viewed by critics as attempts to censor information the public needs to make informed decisions on everything from health and politics to education and the economy.
Trump is closely aligned with multi-billionaire Elon Musk, who owns the social media platform X (formerly called Twitter). A recent study titled “X under Musk’s leadership: substantial hate and no reduction in inauthentic activity” published in the journal PLOS One, says there was a spike in the weekly rate of hate speech that occurred after Musk bought the platform in 2022.
The World Press Freedom Index, which is produced by Reporters Without Borders, ranks press freedom in 180 countries every year. Last year it showed a decline in respect and support for press freedom.
“A growing number of governments and political authorities are not fulfilling their role as guarantors of the best possible environment for journalism and the public’s right to reliable, independent and diverse news and information,” states Reporters Without Borders. “[We see] a worrying decline in support and respect for media autonomy and an increase in pressure from the state or other political actors.”
In the 2024 index, Norway was first for the highest press freedom with a score of 91.89. Canada was in 14th place with a score of 81.7. The United States placed 55 with a score of 66.59. Russia was 162 with a score of 29.86. China was 172 with a score of 23.36. Eritrea was the worst country for press freedom, in last place with a score of 16.64.
The Express had asked the federal government a few weeks ago whether it would provide advertising support to Canadian media outlets rather than to American social media platforms such as Facebook on which it advertises, and change its procurement policies – which can include paying for media advertising – in light of the threat from the south.
“The Government of Canada is closely monitoring the trade situation in the U.S., assessing potential impacts to existing projects, and exploring the use of tariff and non-tariff countermeasures to have a strong and balanced response should one be needed,” said a spokesperson for the department of public services and procurement Canada. “We will always stand up for Canadians, stand up for Canadian jobs, and stand up unequivocally for Canadian sovereignty.”
