Local journalism is the core of every community in Canada. It’s the eyes, it’s the ears and it’s the balanced voice.
Journalists are trusted to keep citizens informed while holding those in power accountable. We live and work in these very communities.
That’s why the Peak is thrilled to share in the launch of Syrup, a brand new social media platform built for Canadian journalists to share their best work. Think Facebook meets Reddit, but Canadian-owned, by Glacier Media. It's a trusted spot for information without ads, bots or false information (what Twitter pre-Elon Musk used to be).
“This new platform fills a gap in how Canadians receive and share local and national news that was opened when a tech giant in another country put its profits ahead of users,” said Peak publisher Kelly Keil. “Syrup is an opportunity for journalists and readers in the qathet region, and throughout Canada, to reconnect on our own terms.”
The decision by American-owned Meta to block Canadian news on Facebook and Instagram has left a void in our media landscape. It has disrupted how we all consume and access local news, and underscored an important need: Canadians need a dedicated space where journalism can thrive, independent of United States-based tech giants and their ever-shifting algorithms.
“This is an exciting moment for Canadian journalism,” said North Shore News publisher Matt Blair. “Syrup offers a fresh, direct connection between the incredible work being done by our journalists and the readers who need it most. We see Syrup as a chance to build something new and truly valuable for our industry and our communities.”
Users can join a “community” once they’ve signed up, such as, for example: Sunshine Coast News (Peak and Coast Reporter), Vancouver News and Sea to Sky News. Journalists will post relevant stories or leads on stories in those communities for readers to follow. Users can also “upvote” stories and engage with the journalist.
“It’s a very user-friendly platform that allows for community engagement, including commenting on posts,” added Blair.
Canadian journalists can sign up for free by visiting syrupsocial.com. Readers in the qathet region, including Powell River and regional district areas north and south of the city, Tla’amin Nation and Texada Island are also encouraged to create an account, like, comment and post breaking news.
Keil believes readers will find Syrup to be a sweet spot for local and Canadian news.
“Knowledge is key for decision-making and sharing information,” said Keil. “This is a great step toward bringing what’s happening around town, in the province and across the country back to our newsfeeds, and at our fingertips.”
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