The changes faced by Black-owned media in Atlantic Canada are the focus of a five-year research project at the University of King’s College School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing in Halifax, N.S.
Ethnic media in Canada is at a crossroads amid dire warnings of decline, even as these communities grow in size. The situation can leave groups on the brink of cultural marginalization, without a key source of information, connection and identity. A stable, inclusive and innovative ethnic media remains imperative to prevent cultural loss in changing multicultural settings. Given this context, why does ethnic media matter in Canada today?
King’s graduate students, led by Assistant Professor Brian Daly, will examine the technological, cultural and financial challenges facing east-coast Black media companies. Researchers will measure the extent to which these publications are working to remain relevant, beyond their communities, in areas of broader social justice.
“Canada is in the midst of unprecedented demographic change, and the media that serve these growing communities are changing as well, under enormous market pressures,” says Prof. Daly. “Black media entrepreneurs on the east coast are trying to serve their communities while also competing with larger media companies for subscribers and funding.”
The King’s project is part of a national study entitled Ethnic Media in Canada at a Crossroads: Challenges, Opportunities and Contributions to Canadian Society. Prof. Daly is part of a team of 12 media educators from across Canada that received a $379,218 Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The King’s section of the project will receive $50,000, most of which will be used to fund student researcher salaries.
The Black media study will include a “Knowledge Café,” which is a public event to share findings and gather feedback. This approach returns research findings to the community, stimulating discussions around the changing media landscape, multigenerational engagement and alternatives to mainstream media narratives.
The University of King’s College is contributing resources to the study as part of a larger commitment, under its Strategic Academic Plan, to increase the presence of research by Black scholars across King’s programs and course offerings.
“This project will provide crucial research in support of Black-owned media in the region,” says King’s Vice-President Tim Currie. “The university is proud to support Prof. Brian Daly and his colleagues in this work.”
Employment, training and mentoring of graduate students under this media project will contribute to the next generation of researchers, policymakers and media practitioners.
