Thead. Here’s the problem - if mainstream media outlets (and individual journos) in Canada were forced to convert to digital without any government $$, how many would survive? The marketplace is already crowded with other creators that have bigger digital audiences.
Point in case. Look up any established columnist from the TorStar, National Post or Globe. Search for their YouTube channel, FB page, or if they have a content app on the App Store. How do their subscriber counts compare to other opinion providers?
In a lot of ways, any political vlogger on YouTube is no different from a TorStar columnist in terms of function - it’s up to the consumer to determine quality of content. Why should they get tax dollars to compete?
