Legacy outlets are facing unprecedented revenue declines as they attempt to innovate, maintain reader[viewer]ship and engage younger audiences. It’s been well documented elsewhere and there’s no need to dwell on it too much here.
It’s no secret the media arms of Canada’s telecoms are struggling, “primarily due to lower advertising revenues,” as explained in BCE’s Q2 2020 report.
The revenue drop is even steeper for the country’s newspapers.
Pitches on the scrap pile
Among the casualties in legacy companies’ slow reinvention are freelance journalists, whose failures to keep regular clients, land assignments and receive timely payments are exacerbated by the pandemic.
After leaving journalism last year to study graphic design, I returned to freelance writing. That was short lived. After a few failed pitches, I reminded myself why I left in the first place. The industry is not the one I romanticized about in J-school.
Here’s the bright news: There’s room for a new generation of media platforms to present information more creatively with a more sustainable business model and a little ingenuity. There are several media startups that are doing just that.
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Why listen to me?
I’ve spent more than 15 years talking to people, gathering facts and telling stories for local and national audiences. You can find out more about me here.
