Over 1,900 Canadians from across the country swamped the CRTC with comments demanding a less concentrated, more diverse media system.

Download the CDM Review of the CRTC “Diversity of voices” Public Notice: DOWNLOAD NOW

People from across Canada made comments through the “Stop the Big Media Takeover” Campaign: DOWNLOAD EXCERTS

Why are Canadians Concerned?

Media ownership is more highly concentrated in Canada than almost anywhere else in the industrialized world. As of 2005, almost all private Canadian television stations are owned by national media conglomerates and, because of increasing cross-ownership, most of our newspapers are owned by the same corporations that own television and radio stations.


This means a handful of Big Media Conglomerates control what Canadians see, hear and read. It means less local and regional content, more direct control over content by owners and less analysis of the events that shape our lives. It also means less media choice for Canadians and fewer Canadian journalists covering news and events that Canadians care about.

As big media increasingly merge with Internet service providers, we also risk unwittingly trading our open Internet for a closed system. In such a system, Internet (and cell phone) service providers can push traffic to their own content and that of their partners, while traffic to other more diverse media sites is slowed or blocked. We need to reverse this trend before big media gets even bigger!

Background and Resources

What's At Stake

Who Owns the Media?

Spring 2008 Media Ownership Chart

CDM Review of the CRTC “Diversity of voices” Public Notice

Excerpts from comments from people from across Canada made through the “Stop the Big Media Takeover” campaign

Study: Localism Drives TV Value

What Can you Do?

1. Contact your MP and tell them to stand up for media diversity:

Find your MP by Postal CODE

We recommend you write a personal letter but you can also use this pre-written letter. You can also learn more about the issues.

2. Stay informed on crucial media democracy points of interventions, sign up to our Action Alerts Mailing list

The Action Alerts mailing will keep you in loop regarding pressing Canadian media reform matters. The list won't clog your inbox. SIGN UP

3. Add your name or an organization/business you represent to our growing list of Campaign supporters.

3.Spread the word
Unless citizens speak out, the debate will continue to be dominated by large media corporations. Please forward this message to encourage others to participate in this crucial campaign. Tell your family and friends about this important campaign.

Help us save Canadian Media: Become a Democratic Media Campaigner!

FEATURED COMMENT:

"Rules to curb the concentration of media in Canada are long overdue. In Vancouver, Canwest controls both the main newspapers plus television. News items and opinions that disagree with Canwest's are simply not reported. We cannot sustain a democracy without a free press. I have written to my MP several times about this, but still nothing is done. The CRTC must act NOW, to diminish media concentration in our country."

~Olive Skene Johnson - Vancouver, B.C.

See what other Canadians are saying

Other Media Ownership Campaigns

FIGHT FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA

The CRTC is letting foreign ownership of our media in through the back door.

Get the Details