At CoGS, in a discussion to approve a motion to unincorporate the Anglican Journal, the question of editorial independence came up:
Bishop Elliott said that if the newspaper lost its independent editorial voice, it could lose its annual Heritage Canada grant, which provides substantial funding towards the cost of mailing the Journal and the 23 diocesan newspapers that it carries across Canada. “Heritage Canada doesn’t fund house organs. Anglican Journal cannot simply be a house organ,” he said.
Editorial independence is a requirement of Heritage Canada funding, which in turn is key to the continuation of the Journal and the diocesan newspaper network, said Kristin Jenkins, Journal editor. Without the federal subsidy to offset the high cost of mailing out the newspapers, most of them, including the Journal, would simply cease to exist, she told CoGS.
I was not aware that the Anglican Journal and diocesan papers depend so heavily on Heritage Canada for their existence. I wonder if the average taxpayer knows that he is paying for the Anglican Church of Canada’s newspapers even though he probably doesn’t receive a copy?
I think Heritage Canada should do some research into the Anglican Journal’s “editorial independence”. It is a house organ!
You’re right. It most definitely is Kate.
And I think a lot of Anglicans throw in the recycle bin when it shows up in there mailbox without it being read !
I have to wonder if any other denomination receives grants from Heritage Canada. Regardless, the Journal is nothing but a voice for apostasy and I strongly object to my tax dollars being used to support that agenda. Yes, I do throw mine into the recycle bin and have even considered grinding it up to feed my plants!! I am confident you will understand my meaning.
Not only the Anglican Journal, but also Anglicans for Renewal see the list. And the United Church Observer and Voix du Coeur de Jésus et de son Vicaire , to boot!
It gets half a million dollars?????
That would be a waste of taxpayers’ money even if it produced fair and balanced reporting.
I notice the Canada Periodical Fund under Aid to Publishers has this stipulation: “a formula based on eligible copies sold or circulated by verified request over a 12-month period.” Most people receiving the Anglican Journal do so because parish offices update regular mailing lists, and these usually do so without asking whether parishioners actually want to receive it. Does that really qualify as a “verified request”?
Had I known, when I was updating lists, that taxpayers were funding the paper, I think I would have passed on that information and then required parishioners to sign a request form.
Very interesting #7 – under the Ottawa Diocesan Privacy Policy I have to get explicit permission to pass on those addresses now.
If you do not wish to receive the Anglican Journal and your local diocesan paper (and wish to save taxpayer’s dollars) simply cancel your subscription.
It only goes to show how liberal the past governments were with our tax dollars. Hopefully a new strong government will set out to curb waste like this.
“Anglican Pravda” a house organ?? Surely you jest!
[...] supposed editorial independence of the Journal is frequently reiterated, largely to avoid losing its substantial grant from Heritage Canada. In reality, it has about the [...]