🟢 Juno Jump Start: We’re Taking Down Our Paywalls

We believe that now, more than ever, Canadians need access to high-quality, uncensored journalism. That’s why, for the next month, we are giving everyone equal access to our work.

We live in troubling times, particularly as Canadians. The Carney government is quietly — but systematically — assailing our freedoms at every opportunity by sneaking bills through Parliament that will fundamentally change our lives. Honest coverage is being maligned, shut down, and shut out. And the journalists who feel it’s their duty to report the facts and speak truth to power are being removed from ‘open’ press conferences for the crime of having the wrong opinion.

It is at this precarious juncture of genuine tyranny and digital information that we feel media freedom and honest coverage are more important than ever. That’s why we’ve decided to throw down the paywalls and give every potential reader — whether they agree with us or not — the opportunity to access our content free of any obstacles.

For the next month, we’re happy to announce that Juno News will have absolutely no paywalls for new content, so that you (and those you’d like to share real, critical information with) can access every new story, video, and podcast completely free of charge.

Does this mean that we are going to start taking government grants to fund our work? No. Volunteer donors have stepped up this month in a big way, and as a result, we feel confident that we will be in a strong position to grow our newsroom and keep fighting for truth.

Juno is unlocked. No paywall for 30 days.

With that said, the big impetus for this move was, of course, the forceful removal of independent journalist and Juno News co-founder Keean Bexte from a Carney–Zelenskyy press conference just days ago. Before the removal, Bexte had by all accounts been incredibly respectful, and his questions were “relatively tame”, according to the Independent Press Gallery. Multiple cabinet ministers and other high-profile public figures had been interviewed without incident or even note, really. But it didn’t matter.

As the time approached when Bexte would’ve been able to question PM Mark Carney or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the RCMP (Carney’s cops) were made aware of an individual who could make Carney word vomit in front of his guest, and Bexte was swiftly removed.

The Independent Press Gallery went on, stating that if his removal was for no other reason than the possibility that he may have asked Zelenskyy or the Prime Minister unanticipated questions, then “it represents a serious attack on press freedom and the public’s right to know”.

We couldn’t agree more.

Independent Press Gallery condemns Liberals after Bexte booted from press conference

Having worked as journalists over the course of COVID, we know the danger of shutting up and complying when we see tyranny, and we know that we have to stand up against that at every opportunity. Because these things matter, and there are consequences to doing nothing. Lasting consequences.

MUST READ: MPs break down hearing stories of Canadians injured after COVID shots

And the consequences of this sort of idleness extend to the present, only in different forms. Canada just experienced the greatest explosion in population in our history, which came at a time when we were at our weakest and least capable of coping with the surge.

This, too, was avoidable, but it was allowed to happen due to intentional under-reporting or delayed reporting from the government-subsidized media conglomerates people are expected to rely on. And no wonder. Those who prop up those organizations have benefited tremendously.

Opinion: International Student Program a pipeline for cheap labour

Together, we want to work to solve this and the myriad of other concerning issues facing Canadians today, and we believe that by opening up our full, uncensored, investigative journalism to everyone, we can be part of the solution.

Final Note:

Over the next little while, you’re going to notice new features being added to Juno News and our flagship product, the Juno Jump Start. Keep an eye out for opportunities to get more involved, more free content, and news that turns the dial in the right direction.

Thanks for reading,

Keean Bexte