Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy

Jobs — Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

Applications for the 2025–2026 Youth Fellows program close August 6th! Click the link for more details 🔗

Les candidatures pour le programme des jeunes boursiers 2025–2026 se terminent le 6 août ! Cliquez sur le lien pour plus de détails 🔗

tinyurl.com/yz84x5u3

*Note that this interview was recorded before U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill canceling about $1.1 billion in funding for public broadcasters including NPR & PBS on July 24th, 2025.

Our survey data shows that most Canadians support the CBC. So, why are we hearing calls to defund the CBC and other public broadcasters worldwide?

Here's @jessicajohnson.bsky.social with a sneak peek of her findings from What Should the CBC Be? Read it here: tinyurl.com/msny7wwa

📢 Les candidatures sont ouvertes pour le programme des jeunes boursiers 2025-26 ! Opportunité rémunérée pour les candidats basés au Canada (entre 18-25 ans), passionnés par le bien-être des jeunes, les droits numériques et la sécurité en ligne. Plus de détails ici : tinyurl.com/yz84x5u3

📢 Applications are now open for the 2025-26 Youth Fellows Program at the Centre! This is a paid opportunity for Canada-based applicants aged 18-25, who are passionate about youth wellbeing, digital rights & online safety. Click here to learn more: tinyurl.com/yz84x5u3

What Should the CBC Be? — Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy What Should the CBC Be? by Jessica Johnson and Emma Wilkie, offers one of the most comprehensive roadmaps in recent history for rethinking the CBC/Radio-Canada. From the Centre for Media, Technology a...

Read the full report here 👉 tinyurl.com/msny7wwa

This report, written by @jessicajohnson.bsky.social & @emma-wilkie.bsky.social, is one of the most comprehensive blueprints in decades for rethinking our national public broadcaster.

Special thanks to Christopher Ross, Skyler Ash, Sequoia Kim & Brian Morgan for their contributions.

Key recommendations:

1. Align funding with CBC’s mandate & Canadians’ needs.
2. Ensure universal access across regions, languages, cultures & platforms.
3. Strengthen trust through media literacy, meaningful representation & depoliticization.
4. Modernize legislation for today’s media landscape.

Public safety is emerging as a core function of public media services worldwide. CBC/Radio-Canada’s role in emergency communications should be strengthened & resourced accordingly.

Mandate reviews are long overdue. Canada has not held a comprehensive mandate review of CBC/Radio-Canada that has led to legislation since 1991 (2025 saw an express review, which did not lead to any changes to the “Broadcasting Act”).

A public broadcaster must serve all Canadians, but access isn’t equal. Rural, remote & underserved communities—and many younger Canadians—often feel left out or that CBC/Radio-Canada isn’t relevant to them.

Funding matters. Canada is falling behind its international peers: globally, public broadcasters cost around $79 per person. CBC/Radio-Canada? Only $33.

78% of Canadians want to keep CBC/Radio-Canada if it addresses its major criticisms. This support spans political lines, regions & age groups.

🚨 Our latest report, What Should the CBC Be? is out now!

The conclusion is clear: Canadians want CBC/Radio-Canada to continue, but it must evolve to remain relevant and trusted.

Here's a sneak peek at the report 🧵

Key recommendations:

1. Align funding with CBC’s mandate & Canadians’ needs.
2. Ensure universal access across regions, languages, cultures & platforms.
3. Strengthen trust through media literacy, meaningful representation & depoliticization.
4. Modernize legislation for today’s media landscape.

Public safety is emerging as a core function of public media services worldwide. CBC/Radio-Canada’s role in emergency communications should be strengthened & resourced accordingly.

Mandate reviews are long overdue. Canada has not held a comprehensive mandate review of CBC/Radio-Canada that has led to legislation since 1991 (2025 saw an express review, which did not lead to any changes to the “Broadcasting Act”).

A public broadcaster must serve all Canadians, but access isn’t equal. Rural, remote & underserved communities—and many younger Canadians—often feel left out or that CBC/Radio-Canada isn’t relevant to them.

Funding matters. Canada is falling behind its international peers: globally, public broadcasters cost around $79 per person. CBC/Radio-Canada? Only $33.

78% of Canadians want to keep CBC/Radio-Canada if it addresses its major criticisms. This support spans political lines, regions & age groups.

Is the CBC out of touch? Here's @emma-wilkie.bsky.social with some ways the CBC can connect better with all Canadians.

What Should the CBC Be? is out tomorrow! Until then, here's a refresher on how Canadians feel about our public broadcaster: tinyurl.com/39yy6uht

For media scholar, @mikeananny.bsky.social, public broadcasters can be an investment in the public good—a space for shared values and visions of Canada.

Our report What Should the CBC Be? by @jessicajohnson.bsky.social & @emma-wilkie.bsky.social will be released July 16! #cdnpoli

🎥 CPAC

Here's why a digital detox might be the best thing for your mental health 📵 🧘

Maclean's spoke to youth fellow Maddie Freeman about why she founded NoSo November, a movement promoting healthier online habits through a 1-month social media detox. tinyurl.com/4rzmm9yj

Our upcoming report, What Should the CBC Be? by @jessicajohnson.bsky.social and @emma-wilkie.bsky.social, offers a vision for a public media system that is accountable, accessible, and built for the future. Follow along to learn more about their research and recommendations!

The CBC has made a lot of headlines this year. Here’s @anjakaradeglija.bsky.social, reporter-editor at @cdnpress.bsky.social, breaking down what’s happened since the start of 2025 and what the future might hold for Canada’s public broadcaster. 🧵 #cdnpoli

Troubling times lie ahead for Canada's information ecosystem if nothing is done, but for MEO director @abridgman.bsky.social, course correction is always possible.

MEO's full report on the 45th federal election is coming soon! Follow us for more updates! #cdnpoli

🎥 CPAC

Jessica Johnson and @emma-wilkie.bsky.social dive deeper into these questions in our upcoming report: What Should the CBC Be? Stay tuned for the full release and exclusive interviews!

Why do we have the CBC, and why does it matter today?

Senior Fellow @jessicajohnson.bsky.social unpacks these questions in a clip from our recent Digital Sovereignty event. #cdnpoli #journalism #cbc

🎥 CPAC

You can read the full letter here: tinyurl.com/j2j9eu4c

We urge the government of Canada to tax foreign tech giants to fund local innovation, defend digital sovereignty in trade talks, and stop further concessions that weaken laws on AI, online harms, privacy, and info integrity.