Media - who pays?

The Epoch Times is my preferred source of corporate news. I avoid Canadian news outlets that receive government subsidies to avoid being sucked into the vortex of groupthink funded by Ottawa🧐

GROK explains…

❓Who owns the Epoch Times newspaper and how is it funded?

The Epoch Times is owned by the Epoch Media Group, a nonprofit organization. It was founded in 2000 by John Tang and other Chinese Americans affiliated with the Falun Gong religious movement. As a nonprofit, it is not owned by any individual or group but is governed by a board of directors and an executive team.

Funding comes primarily from subscriptions, donations, and advertising. The outlet reported $8.4 million in revenue from contributions and grants in 2020 and 2021, with revenue growing to $122 million by 2022, largely attributed to subscriber growth and donations. Some sources suggest Falun Gong loyalists, who support related ventures like Shen Yun performances, may contribute significantly to its funding, though specific donors are not disclosed.

Additionally, a 2024 legal case alleged the Epoch Times was involved in a $67 million money laundering scheme led by its CFO, Weidong Guan, raising questions about the legitimacy of some funds, but this remains under investigation.

❓Does it receive any government grants or privileges?

There is no definitive evidence that The Epoch Times receives direct government grants or special privileges from any government. As a nonprofit under the Epoch Media Group, its primary funding comes from subscriptions, donations, and advertising, as noted earlier. IRS filings and public records do not indicate federal or state grants as a significant revenue source.

However, some reports, including a 2020 NBC News investigation, suggested the outlet benefited indirectly from favorable coverage during the Trump administration, such as access to White House events, which could be seen as a form of privilege. This was not a formal grant or financial support but rather journalistic access. No concrete data confirms ongoing government funding or privileges as of my last update.

❓How much money have Canadian media organizations received in federal government subsidies since 2019?

Since 2019, Canadian media organizations have received significant federal government subsidies, primarily through initiatives announced in the 2019 federal budget. The key programs include a $595 million bailout package over five years (2019–2024), extended to 2029, aimed at supporting journalism through tax credits and grants. This package includes:

• Journalism Labour Tax Credit: Up to $35 million annually to cover a portion of journalists’ salaries (up to 35% in some cases).

• Local Journalism Initiative: $50 million over five years to fund approximately 400 local reporting jobs, with an additional $58.8 million pledged in 2024 to continue the program until 2027.

• Other Tax Measures: Allowing journalism organizations to register as qualified donees and offering tax breaks for digital news subscriptions.

In total, the $595 million bailout alone equates to roughly $119 million per year through 2024, with extensions increasing the overall commitment. Additionally, the Canada Media Fund and other programs provide ongoing support, though specific annual figures for these are less detailed in available data.

Beyond these, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) receives separate funding, approximately $1.2 billion annually, which some sources include in broader media subsidy discussions. Posts on X also mention specific payouts, such as $4.3 million to Postmedia, $2 million to The Globe and Mail, and $1.9 million to Metroland Media, though these are not independently verified here.

Summing the bailout and CBC funding, estimates suggest over $1.7 billion annually in total media support, with the bailout’s $595 million spread over five years and CBC’s $1.2 billion yearly allocation being the largest components. Precise figures for all media organizations are harder to pinpoint due to varying program scopes and reporting, but the total since 2019 likely exceeds $7 billion when including CBC funding through 2025.

Groupthink elected Mark Carney

How was it that a man who has not lived in Canada for over a decade, then decides to run for the most important job in Canada - Prime Minister - and then wind both the Liberal Party’s endorsement and the votes of the majority of Canadian electors in a rushed federal election❓

If you don’t believe that the “captured” media had the most significant role to play in this unlikely scenario, then your “spidey-sense” needs an update.

Yes, every taxpayer pays the freight for every election, and then goes on to pay for the consequences of every election outcome.

When the bill lands in your inbox, I wonder if you will be happy or feel a deep sense of buyers remorse. 😎