Algorithms, Platforms, and Policy: The Changing Face of Canadian News Distribution

In Canada’s English/French hybrid media system, algorithms are changing traditional gatekeeping practices, with newsworkers using data from third-party platforms to help determine what types of stories should be covered and how they will be promoted. Algorithmic distribution has become a proxy issue in a showdown between legacy news industries, news journalism startups, governments, and large social media platforms. The Canadian government is now joining forces with other countries to explore regulations that support the continued creation and distribution of diverse news content. Our chapter provides an overview of algorithms’ impact on journalistic integrity in Canadian newsrooms and an analysis of the policies that might influence this largely self-regulated industry.