CKCU launches fundraising drive to defend independent media

Ottawa-based CKCU FM is launching its Keep Media Human campaign on Oct. 23 with a $215,000 fundraising goal as independent outlets face funding cuts, political pressure and growing misinformation. The 51-year-old campus and community station says the drive will support programming, volunteer training, partnerships and long-term sustainability.

Why it matters: - CKCU is trying to raise $215,000 CAD to support independent community radio at a time when funding cuts, political pressure and disinformation are straining media trust. - The campaign is framed as a defense of human-made local journalism, volunteer-driven programming and public access to diverse voices. - The effort lands as local news continues to shrink in Canada and as concerns grow about AI-generated content and misinformation.

What happened: - CKCU FM is launching its Keep Media Human campaign on Oct. 23, 2026. - The Ottawa station set a fundraising goal of $215,000 CAD. - CKCU is based at Carleton University and operates as an independent, non-profit media organization. - The station has been volunteer- and community-powered for 51 years.

The details: - CKCU was founded in 1975 as Canada’s first campus-based FM station. - The station says donations will support programming, volunteer training, community partnerships and long-term sustainability. - The campaign runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 8, 2026. - The funding drive launch takes place Friday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fono, 473 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa. - Interviews, photos and audio opportunities are available at the launch. - Lia Kiessling, CKCU station director, is available for in-person and remote interviews. - Supporters can donate at the campaign donation page.

Between the lines: - CKCU is positioning community media as a trust-based alternative to shrinking local news and machine-generated content. - Lia Kiessling said community media matters more than ever because “it’s getting harder to know what to trust.” - Corrie Rabbe, chair of CKCU’s board of directors, said the station’s strength comes from participation, with listeners helping create what goes on air. - The campaign is also a statement about preserving space for the next generation of voices, not just maintaining current operations. - External data cited by CKCU points to a broader crisis: Northwestern University’s 2026 State of Local News report says almost 47 million Americans live in counties with limited or no local news access. - A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found 56% of U.S. adults had at least some trust in information from national news organizations. - The Public Policy Forum says 605 local news outlets closed across 388 Canadian communities between 2008 and 2025. - A 2025 national survey found 32% of Canadians listen to campus or community radio regularly or occasionally, rising to 48% among people ages 18 to 29.

What’s next: - CKCU will spend the next several weeks pushing donations before the campaign ends on Nov. 8, 2026. - The station will use the fundraising period to seek support for its on-air programming and community role. - CKCU is available to field media requests as the drive gets underway.

The bottom line: - CKCU is asking Ottawa and beyond to treat community radio as a public good worth funding while independent media faces mounting pressure.