Commit to local media
It’s been quite a year for local media in Hamilton.
As CHCH celebrates 70 years on the air in 2024, it’s important to reflect on just how important the station has been to the identity of Hamilton. It is one of just a few independent broadcasters in the country and it has punched above its weight throughout its history.
Check out our feature that examines some of that history but also, more importantly, the present and future of Hamilton’s broadcaster. It’s found a new home in Waterdown, embarked on new content streams and rededicated itself to its local focus.
On the other hand, the devastating loss of 900 CHML is a cautionary tale. The broadcaster was a fixture in this city for 97 years and among the oldest radio stations in Canada. It was a place where local news and news talk ruled and for many Hamiltonians over generations, the station was part of their daily lives.
Owner Corus Entertainment announced the closure on Aug. 14 and within an hour or so, the station’s spot on the dial was static. The corporation blamed the closure on shifting advertising trends and “the increased and unregulated presence of foreign-owned media platforms.”
Despite the valid point about foreign-owned social media platforms gutting news media, this is the danger of mass corporate ownership of local outlets. From the executive suites in big cities, there is no genuine commitment to the community or to journalism. The overriding commitment for high-paid executives is to shareholders. Full stop.
It’s about a year ago that Metroland Media Group declared bankruptcy, shutting down its six weekly print community newspapers in Hamilton and laying off 605 people across Ontario. That has left a huge gap..
There were genuine concerns at the time – that remain today – about the future of the Hamilton Spectator, a 178-year-old institution in this city, which now operates without a physical newsroom.
The Spec continues to do incredibly important work despite the challenges in resources it grapples with every day. One bright spot: the paper is now under the leadership of editor-in-chief in Cheryl Stepan, a respected, experienced and talented journalist who has come up through the newsroom's ranks.
We must as a community commit to supporting and investing in our local media outlets in whatever ways we can. They are the only ones who will tell us what is happening in our city, ask the tough questions, give voice to the voiceless and make sure those who hold power act with integrity, competence and responsibility.
If you’d like to support the work of the independently and locally owned HAMILTON CITY Magazine, please subscribe, buy us from a retailer or advertise with us.
– Meredith MacLeod and Will Vipond Tait
