The two federal grants have a combined total of $100,000. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

federal subsidies

National Observer, MBC hiring La Ronge-based reporters with federal funds

Jan 10, 2020 | 12:08 PM

The federal government is providing funding for two new reporters to be based out of La Ronge.

Canada’s National Observer and Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) were both successful applicants in the Local Journalism Initiative through the Department of Canadian Heritage. The initiative consists of $50 million to be paid out throughout five years and the first round of funding is expected to create more than 100 new positions. In total, 29 jobs will be in the Prairie provinces.

Private broadcasters, including Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, of which larongeNOW is part of were excluded from applying for funding to hire reporters under the Local Journalism Initiative.

“I picked La Ronge as an area I thought would be of keen interest, just not only to the citizens of the La Ronge and surrounding area, but also to the rest of the audience of our publication the National Observer,” Managing Editor Laurie Few said.

According to Few, National Observer coverage examines topics like climate change, energy, the environment and natural resources, as well as corporate and political accountability when it comes to the issues. The online publication also has a section on its site called First Nations Forward, which examines activities, initiatives, programs and projects with an Indigenous perspective.

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Few called the National Observer a small team of reporters with a presence in cities such as Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. The publication also relies on contributors and freelance journalists from other provinces. The company, Observer Media Group, has a deadline of Feb. 1 to apply for the position.

“I was always keenly aware of the challenges of covering local news in Saskatchewan,” Few said, adding local news is shrinking across Canada. “[It’s] a huge province with a small population and, quite honestly, some challenges in terms of our climate. All these kinds of things add up to often a difficult place to make sure local news, civic news, is covered in a thorough way.”

Through the $50,000 grant, La Ronge-based MBC has already hired researcher Brandon White who grew up in the community. According to MBC, he will report on a variety of topics ranging from culture, art, First Nations and land issues, and the environment. MBC CEO Deborah A. Charles was thrilled to learn the corporation received the federal finding.

“MBC applied for $50,000 for the Local News Journalism Initiative funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage, which supports the full participation of Aboriginal peoples in Canadian society, and the promotion, revitalization, and preservation of Aboriginal languages and cultures,” she’s quoted as saying in an MBC news article. “MBC had a strong application with all its supporting documentation. I am more excited to take the news/journalism training next week in Ottawa.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno