The way we get our news has changed dramatically because of the internet. While TV is still the most popular news source for Canadians overall, younger Canadians rely mostly on social media. This shift means people depend less on news outlets to choose what to cover and more on what their friends share or what social media algorithms recommend. As a result, there’s a growing concern that the news people receive hasn't been fact-checked or isn’t objective.
Audio media, such as music and podcasts, share the power to communicate deeply and personally with listeners, often using sound and words to tell stories and set moods. Both forms have been fundamentally changed by digital technology, which has made content abundant and accessible, mainly through mobile devices and streaming. These digital changes mean that algorithms and platform rules are now major forces in deciding what listeners discover and consume.
The changes in how news is consumed (and produced) described above have also made it harder to verify if a particular news item is accurate – and made it easier for misinformation to be spread, either intentionally or unintentionally.
A podcast is a digital file that contains audio or video, allowing for flexible and intimate storytelling. Unlike traditional radio, the cost to start producing a podcast is remarkably low, meaning many different types of creators can participate using devices like cell phones. This medium builds a strong feeling of closeness with listeners because the host’s voice seems to be speaking directly into your ear, creating deep, personal connections. Podcasters often imagine their audience as friends or fans.
The podcast industry has seen remarkable growth, with the number of active podcast programs climbing from 550,000 to 750,000 between 2018 and 2019. More than a third of anglophones in Canada listen to podcasts, and just over a quarter of francophones.
At its core, news is defined by what’s considered newsworthy, a criterion that has evolved over time. Traditionally, a story is deemed newsworthy if it’s unusual, as encapsulated by Jesse Lynch Williams’ adage "a dog bites a man, that's a story; a man bites a dog, that's a good story.”