UPDATED: Google signs $100M deal with news collective, ends News Showcase in Canada

Alphabet Inc.’s Google has chosen the collective responsible for distributing its $100 million annual contribution to Canadian news businesses, the company announced Friday. The Canadian Journalism Collective, federally incorporated as a non-profit on May 20, will manage the distribution of the funds to eligible publications that replied to Google’s open call. A total of 1,504 outlets responded, according to Google's final list. Google also confirmed that it will be ending its News Showcase program in Canada. According to the collective’s corporate records, it “exists to represent journalism broadcasters and publishers for the primary purpose of disbursing funds” under the Online News Act. It also states that it will do so “in a manner that respects the equitable representation of each subsector, including non-profit and for-profit sectors, news businesses that reflect a diversity of business models that provide services to all markets and diverse populations (including local and regional markets in every province and territory), anglophone and francophone communities, and Black and other racialized communities, and Indigenous news outlets.” The collective’s board of directors is made up of seven members including Dru Jay, Erin Millar, Catherine Edwards, Sadia Zaman, Jean Larose, Adam Reaburn, and Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours. According to reporting from The Canadian Press, it will have a steering committee made up of 12 independent media outlets. Publications that represent Black and minority Canadians, as well as French-language, community, and Indigenous news. “After considering proposals and working through the details of an agreement, we are pleased to have signed an agreement with the Canadian Journalism Collective-Collectif Canadien de Journalisme,” said Google in a statement. The company did not answer questions regarding the other proposals it received, but said its selection of the collective was informed by its alignment with the intent of the Online News Act, including “diversity of representation, a robust governance structure, a high level of transparency, and minimizing administrative fees.” “We are confident that their approach is best aligned with these principles and will support the full diversity of the Canadian news ecosystem,” said Google. The tech giant noted it has met all the exemption criteria laid out in the act, adding that the $100 million payment is contingent on the CRTC recognizing that exemption. The CRTC will be holding public consultations on Google’s application, but it is unclear when they will take place. “We hope these next steps will be completed as quickly as possible, so Canadian publishers and journalists can soon begin to receive the proceeds of this new contribution model,” said Google. With the monetary contributions set to flow through this deal with the news collective, Google will be winding down the Canadian operations of its Google News Showcase program later this year. The company explained that its non-monetary investments, such as those done through the Google News Initiative, will continue. – Reporting by Phalen Tynes-MacDonald at pcreed@thewirereport.ca This story was updated to clarify that not all publications that responded to Google's open call were confirmed as eligible to receive funding.

UPDATED: Google signs $100M deal with news collective, ends News Showcase in Canada

Broadcast | June 7, 2024

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UPDATED: Google signs $100M deal with news collective, ends News Showcase in Canada

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