Good morning, Mr. Champoux.
I am a member of AJIQ's board of directors. I also conduct research into independent journalism. I feel that the issue is not whether it's hard to achieve recognition. The issue is whether it's difficult to see one's work valued in an online environment, in which the information economy is now completely in the hands of online platforms whose business model is based on profit. The economy is no longer based on employment, it's based on profit.
It is easy to produce online. It's very easy to publish content. A number of people are doing that, journalists, influencers and even a blend of the two. It's certainly very easy to publish content online, but it's extremely difficult to have it valued. It's almost impossible, especially in French. Online, if you speak French on YouTube, Meta or TikTok, it's almost impossible. You need private sponsors, but if you have them, you may have an ethical problem.
For me, the issue is not about credibility, but about the value of the work. The work has been devalued because we're now in a profit-driven economy and no longer in an employment-based economy. Of course, I am talking about the digital economy. That is the issue.