MOST CANADIANS WANT Google and Facebook to be encouraged to reach fair deals with Canadian news organizations for payment for news, according to a poll conducted by Nanos for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.
“About four in five Canadians support (52%) or somewhat support (25%) having the Government of Canada encourage Google and Facebook to negotiate with Canadian news organizations for the fair payment reflecting the value of their work,” a Nanos report on the poll results says (please see chart above).
The report also shows 60% oppose and 20% somewhat oppose the platforms paying nothing to news organizations for their content and that Canadians have more confidence in Canadian news organizations working in their best interests compared to Google and Facebook.
“Close to two in three Canadians are confident (17%) or somewhat (46%) confident that Canadian news organizations including broadcasters and newspapers, work in the best interests of Canadians,” the report says, adding that “over four in five each say they are not confident or somewhat confident in Google (57% not confident, 25% somewhat not confident) as well as Facebook (71% not confident, 20% somewhat not confident).”
Most Canadians furthermore said accessing news from Canadian sources is important (75%) or somewhat important (17%) to them. “Older residents (55 plus) (84% important, 11% somewhat important) are more likely to say so compared to younger Canadians (18 to 34) (62% important, 26% somewhat important),” according to Nanos.
“It’s clear that Canadians support the underlying principles behind Bill C-18, and they want to continue to access news from a Canadian perspective,” said Kevin Desjardins, president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, in a statement emailed to Cartt.ca. “Moreover, the majority of Canadians recognize that our news organizations are working in their best interests. This should send a clear message to MPs that legislation like Bill C-18 is necessary, and that Canadians put their trust in our newsrooms over foreign web giants.”
For the full Nanos report, please click here.
Chart borrowed from the Nanos report.
