newsletter: a strong democracy demands a strong news industry | report
April 9, 2025
A healthy democracy requires trusted journalism—reporting that’s well-researched, fair, and widely available.
Canadian broadcasters recognize this responsibility and take pride in delivering high-quality news across television, radio, and digital platforms that millions rely on every day.
A recent YouGov survey revealed that 95% of Canadians consider Canadian news important. At the same time, 90% express “very” or “somewhat” serious concerns about fake news—marking a significant increase of over 10 percentage points since March 2023.
Canadians trust TV and Radio news: As concerns about misinformation grow, television, radio, and newspapers remain the most trusted news platforms—with 85% of Canadians rating them as trustworthy. By comparison, online news sources (excluding established newspaper or broadcaster websites/apps) earn trust from 69% of Canadians, while social media trails significantly at only 41%.
Television is the top choice for news: 60% of Canadians turn to TV for national news on a weekly or more frequent basis, while 58% watch TV for their local news just as often.
News programming on TV isn’t just widely watched and trusted by viewers—it’s also a prime opportunity for advertisers. Canadians rank ads shown during news programs as the most trustworthy, memorable, and attention-grabbing compared to other TV genres.
Quality news programming matters now more than ever: Not only is Canadian news programming essential for our democracy, but it’s an ideal platform for Canadian brands. There’s no better place to showcase a “buy Canadian” message than where Canadians already trust what they see. #MadeinCanada