Amid reports about the University of Ottawa’s campus community radio station, CHUO, and its uncertain future, we are reminded of a simple truth: when local media vanishes, we all lose.
Independent media plays a critical role in our communities. It reflects our voices, languages, cultures, and experiences. It brings neighbours closer, builds empathy, and strengthens civic life. At CKCU, we have seen this firsthand for more than 50 years, and we see it in the work of others, too. Ottawa-Gatineau is home to a vibrant ecosystem of independent outlets: Apartment 613, The Charlatan, The Low Down to Hull and Back News, Centretown BUZZ, Unique FM, and so many more that inform, entertain, and connect us.
These organizations are not just content creators and curators. They are cultural infrastructure, as essential to community life as libraries, schools, and public transit. And like all infrastructure, they need investment, care, and commitment to thrive.
We know that the media landscape in Canada is under severe strain. Rising costs, shrinking revenues, and concentrated ownership are eroding the diversity and depth of information available to the public. Local media, in particular, are at risk, and the consequences ripple far beyond the newsroom. Trust in information declines. Fewer people vote, show up to community events, volunteer, or speak out on local issues. Communities become more disconnected from each other, from local culture, and from the decisions that affect their lives. In this age of fast-moving technology, when so much is uncertain, the need for human connection matters more than ever.
CKCU counters that. As a listener-supported station powered by volunteers and guided by the public interest, we have always believed in the power of community. We still do. And now is the time to strengthen, not shrink, the spaces where local voices can be heard.
To the staff, volunteers, and supporters of all local outlets: we see you, we stand with you, and we know what your work means to the fabric of our city. Independent media is not a luxury. It is a necessity, and we must treat it that way.
CKCU is entering its next 50 years with purpose, to help ensure community media not only survives, but thrives across Ottawa-Gatineau and beyond.
Wherever you are, take a moment to support the independent media that brings your community to life. Tune into your local station. Turn on community TV. Subscribe to a podcast made by your local high school. Read your neighbourhood paper. Share their stories. Show up. Because when local media survives, communities thrive.