News Merger

Today the Canadian newspapers are full of the Canwest purchase of 13 major metropolitan daily newspapers, over 130 smaller daily and weekly newspapers, and a 50% stake in the National Post. It's silly season, so you can see the various journalists on their knees in gratitude. They now have something real to write about. Or least something that's real to their world. I suspect average Canadians are going to shrug.

The concern comes because Canwest also owns Global Television, which is a major player in the Canadian market. Some people are concerned about the concentration of media power. In Vancouver Canwest now owns both of the major daily newspapers, and two television channels. Other cities don't have quite this much concentration.

I don't think it is really that much of a problem because there is no shortage of alternative information sources. There are lots of television channels out there showing all kinds of content. I don't watch television at home, but every time I stay in a hotel I'm fascinated and horrified all over again. There is another major newspaper chain. Calgary has four daily papers, The Globe and Mail, The Calgary Sun, The National Post, and The Calgary Herald. Canwest now owns the Herald and half the Post, and the other two papers have different owners.

Most Canadian cities have at least two major daily newspapers. In addition, there seems to be no shortage of weekly and alternative newspapers catering to all sorts of markets. This is to say nothing of the internet. Last time I looked, dozens of newspapers around the world have web sites with varying amounts of news. CNN might be the most prominent news web site, but most of the television broadcasters have one as well, including the CBC here in Canada. I don't see much to support the claim that there is a shortage of news sources.