A free press is not just a cornerstone of democracy—it is our last line of defence in a time of rampant disinformation, threats to our sovereignty, and an emerging new world order. Canada needs to stake its ground.

As Canadians prepare to head to the polls on April 28^th, the work of journalists will be crucial in ensuring voters can separate reality from falsehoods to make informed decisions that will shape our country’s future. 

The World Press Freedom Canada awards luncheon is an opportunity to recognize that work and reaffirm our commitment to protecting a robust and independent press.  This year, we’re thrilled to have celebrated Canadian news anchor Kevin Newman as our keynote speaker.

Newman is currently at the helm of Get Fact — a new initiative to combat disinformation. It is a non-partisan collective fight against falsehoods aimed at our country and launches on April 8th.

Newman’s project reinforces the value of journalistic integrity over deception by empowering citizens to recognize and resist disinformation. It has developed a fact-checking tool that assesses viral claims with transparency and verified human and AI sources. 

A well-informed public is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and without it, society risks falling prey to narratives driven by manipulation. All Canadians need to stand on guard.

It is well documented that foreign and domestic actors exploit digital platforms to spread lies and propaganda, targeting everything from electoral integrity to public health measures. In the face of such an onslaught, journalists are on the frontlines battling distortion with facts.

Canada is not immune to these threats. As Newman points out, we are the only member of the Five Eyes without a psychological operations (psyops) unit to detect, identify and counteract disinformation campaigns.

The U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand deploy specialized psyops units that use advanced intelligence techniques to safeguard public discourse. 

The European Union has taken decisive steps to combat these threats through the European Media Freedom Act. It has new rules to protect journalists and media providers; anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation to shield journalists from abusive legal actions, and a broader agreement between the Council and Parliament to ensure media independence and transparency. These measures set a precedent for how governments can proactively safeguard press freedom and counter disinformation while reinforcing public trust in journalism.

Lacking these safeguards in Canada is why initiatives like Get Fact matter.

A free press is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Together, we must actively support press freedom; whether through policy, financial backing, or a personal commitment to consume credible news sources.

This year’s awards luncheon is more than a celebration—it will be a rallying cry. The fight against disinformation is a battle for our sovereignty, and in that fight, independent, credible journalism is our most powerful weapon.