Canada’s ethnic media plays an essential role in uniting minoritized immigrant, ethnic and racial groups, and over time has evolved from analog to digital, while remaining relevant across generations. Over 800 outlets nationwide offer vital information on settlement and civic engagement, provide an alternative to the mainstream media and help preserve the language, culture and identity of diaspora groups.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) School of Communication professors Daniel Ahadi and Ahmed Al-Rawi recently published The Handbook of Ethnic Media in Canada, a volume that generates insights into the dynamics of ethnic media in the digital age. The work was co-edited by Sherry Yu, an SFU PhD alumnus and now an associate professor at the University of Toronto.
The Handbook of Ethnic Media in Canada builds on past studies that highlight the particular functions of ethnic media. Contributors re-examine theoretical and methodological approaches to ethnic media research, explore the practices of ethnic media along cultural, linguistic and religious lines and interrogate the policies that affect ethnic media production and consumption.
Daniel Ahadi researches the development of self and identity within the context of media, migration, globalization and the formation of transnational diasporas. He is an affiliated faculty member at SFU’s Digital Democracies Institute.
Ahmed Al-Rawi investigates issues of racism and democracy in news and social media content, as well as from the perspective of racialized Canadian politicians and journalists, partly to understand whether racism negatively influences democracy. A former journalist and spokesperson for the Red Cross, Al-Rawi leads The Disinformation Project at SFU.
Their book asks how ethnic media have changed, why they continue to be relevant, and what impact this media sector has on ethnocultural communities as well as broader society.
We spoke to professors Ahadi and Al-Rawi about their book.
What is classified as ethnic media is Canada? Is this the correct term?
Ethnicity is a general conceptual term divided along national, racial, religious and geographical classifications—among others—and we used it broadly to refer to any identifiable immigrant ethnic community in Canada. There are other relevant terms such as diasporic media, but we believe that ethnic media better captures what we and other contributors wanted to explore in this handbook.
What are some of the unique or innovative ways the ethnic media serves communities?
Just like mainstream media, ethnic media engages younger audiences by leveraging digital platforms—through websites, social media and user-generated content. For instance, platforms like YouTube or Instagram are frequently used to share culturally relevant videos, community updates and even livestream events such as festivals or religious ceremonies. Beyond entertainment and engagement, ethnic media also plays a vital role in supporting public health initiatives. In times of crises, such as natural disasters or health emergencies, ethnic media often becomes a lifeline, disseminating critical, timely information in languages and formats that resonate with their audiences.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many ethnic media outlets translated health guidelines and vaccine information into multiple languages, ensuring that their communities were well-informed. Moreover, these media platforms provide essential guidance on accessing social services such as housing, legal aid, and healthcare. Often they are simplifying complex systems for the communities they serve.
Economic empowerment is another key area where ethnic media can play an important role. For example, it supports local small businesses through advertising and community spotlights, helping them reach a targeted audience. Additionally, some outlets run financial literacy campaigns, offering advice on budgeting, taxes, or starting a business. This empowers community members to navigate economic systems that might otherwise be new to them.
What is the role of ethnic media in Canadian race relations?
We think it plays a crucial role in offering a voice and a platform to those who belong to marginalized ethnic groups, especially people from racialized backgrounds who find ethnic media to be their main vehicle to share relevant information and express their unique lived experiences. Mainstream media rarely covers their concerns and often times the news is framed in a way that serves the powerful players, be it government, the private sector, or other institutions.
Can you describe how the ethnic media infrastructure impacts democracy? Does it promote any specific agenda or bias?
Ethnic media complements the role of mainstream media by fostering greater community engagement and political involvement among ethnic minorities, who might otherwise feel marginalized in mainstream media discourse. This kind of media needs to be viewed as an opportunity to enhance democracy rather than a threat to it, since the public sphere will become more multilayered. They play a crucial role in shaping democracy by providing platforms for underrepresented groups to voice their perspectives, concerns and cultural narratives. However, like all media, ethnic media can also exhibit biases and promote specific agendas, often reflecting the particular interests, ideologies, or cultural orientations of the communities they serve, which speaks to the complexity of minoritized ethno-cultural communities in Canada.
Do Canadian policies, such as the Multiculturalism Policy and Broadcasting Policy effectively support ethnic media?
There are provisions in the Multiculturalism Act and the Broadcasting Act that support representation of minoritized voices in the Canadian media landscape and the general public sphere. But Canada is lagging behind compared to other countries, such as Sweden, Germany, or the UK, where there are commitments by their public broadcasting to offer media content, especially news, in languages other than the dominant languages of these countries. Critics argue that the Canadian ethnic media industry has not been fully recognized or integrated into the broadcasting system. This suggests that updates and reforms to policies like the Ethnic Broadcasting Policy are needed to reflect the current media landscape and demographic changes in Canada.
To access The Handbook of Ethnic Media in Canada with SFU computing ID visit: https://doi.org/10.1515/9780228019367
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