Canada has a new press and newsmedia council thanks to a refreshed and renewed commitment to the newsmedia industry by publications across the country, as well as the successful amalgamation of several regional press councils, including the Ontario Press Council, the Atlantic Press Council and the British Columbia Press Council.

A launch celebration is planned for early October. This new Council has been created in a spirit that will encourage the highest ethical and professional standards of journalism and act as a medium of understanding between the public and member news organizations. Akin to most other press councils, the National NewsMedia Council will receive, review and potentially adjudicate complaints from the public regarding alleged violations of ethical and/or journalistic standards about a member outlet’s publication.

The National NewsMedia Council (NNC) was constituted officially on September 1, 2015, with the Hon. Frances Lankin, former CEO of the United Way Toronto and former cabinet minister in the Ontario Government, serving as its first chair. John Fraser, the award-winning Canadian journalist, author, editor and immediate past master of Massey College in the University of Toronto, is the inaugural President and CEO.

The NNC will be sharing office space in the Newspapers Canada head office in mid-town Toronto. Newspapers Canada CEO John Hinds welcomed the news about the new NNC: “I think this is a fantastic opportunity. The great thing about it is it allows areas like Saskatchewan and Manitoba to have representation again. It brings that model to the full country.”

Speaking for the new organization, the inaugural President and CEO, John Fraser, said his first task is to assure all the current media members of the Council that a national body is going to strengthen their commitment to a fair and just accounting of media practices. “Newspapers and magazines serve the public and it is the public, first and foremost, who need to have confidence that this industry-supported agency is working to protect its best interests. At the same time, the news media industry is in tremendous transition and we have an important role to play in assuring that this transition includes the very best standards of journalism.”

For further information, please contact Don McCurdy at 416-340-1981 or dmccurdy@mediacouncil.ca.