The offense, McGill University’s only French-language newspaper, is in jeopardy. According to a publication shared on social networks, “it may have to close after 45 years of existence”.
“Whether you are at McGill or not, you can help us by voting and relaying this message”, published on Twitter Rafael Miro, journalism student who has long contributed to this weekly.
Published in print and online format, The offense is largely funded by students who pay a $6 per semester membership fee to the Daily Publications Society (SPD), a non-profit organization that brings together the English-language student newspaper McGill Daily and its French counterpart, The offense.
Since November 14 and until Friday, the members of the student association must decide if they agree to continue to contribute to its financing, within the framework of an online referendum.
“Most students are not even aware of the vote,” writes Rafael Miro. “To date, the forecasts are not very good for us. »
If the “yes” vote wins, student funding will be renewed for the next five years. Otherwise, the newspaper will have to cease its operations.
The publication relayed on Instagram had collected more than 2,500 “likes” by the end of the day on Wednesday.
“People have been wanting to see The offense close its doors, on the sole pretext that it is not necessary to have a French-language newspaper at McGill, continues Mr. Miro. In the last few weeks, our kiosks have even been vandalized several times (without knowing by whom). We disturb, it’s the proof that we do our job! »
McGill has 20% of French-speaking students, he recalls.
With the emergence of social networks, The offense says it has seen its ad revenue “divided by 10” over the past 10 years.
Funds collected by the Daily’s Publications Corporation are used to print the newspaper, to pay for its staff’s offices and the salaries of employees who work in advertising, in addition to providing “modest” financial assistance to contributing editors.
It’s not the first time that The offense must fight to ensure its survival. Every five years, the members of the student association must decide on its funding.
The English newspaper McGill Daily could also close if the “yes” does not win the referendum, because it is also largely financed by funds from students.