We're free...but you should also pay for news

It costs you nothing to receive this newsletter every morning. And as part of our unique not-for-profit model, The Conversation Canada doesn’t charge for its content. In fact, everything we produce is free for other media to publish under Creative Commons licence. But for for-profit news organizations, including essential daily publications with large newsrooms, convincing people to pay for news is an ongoing conundrum. Today, we have further proof. Colette Brin of Université Laval and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen of the University of Oxford look at the results of this year’s Digital News Report, a survey conducted in 38 countries by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. In Canada, less than 10 per cent of the respondents say they are paying for news.

Elsewhere, we present strong arguments why Canada should regulate social media giants like Facebook and Twitter; how lab-grown meat is becoming a thing and, just in time for Father’s Day, a look at the many different ways dads can influence their children’s emotions.

And finally…elementary schools will be letting out for summer soon and Mariana Brussoni of the University of British Columbia looks at the research about the many positive benefits of letting kids get outside and play. For that to happen, parents “need to let go of our excessive fears of injuries and kidnapping and realize that the benefits of kids getting out to play far outweigh the risks.”

Regards,

Scott White

Editor

Today's Featured Stories

Canadians have trust in their news media, but they’re unlikely to pay for online news. (Shutterstock)

A paltry number of Canadians are paying for online news

Colette Brin, Université Laval; Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, University of Oxford

Canadians have a comparatively high trust in their media compared to other countries, but that doesn't translate into a willingness to pay for online news.

Regulating the internet out of concern for citizens’ privacy should be a key issue in the upcoming election. Shutterstock

Why should we regulate social media giants? Because it’s 2019, Prime Minister Trudeau

Jean-Hugues Roy, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

The UK Online Harms White Paper outlines possible internet regulation measures, and Canada would do well to study its approach.

Could dairy products soon be produced in labs? (Shutterstock)

Lab-grown dairy: The next food frontier

Michael von Massow, University of Guelph; Mitchell Gingerich, University of Guelph

Dairy proteins may be the next product to be mass produced in labs, for use in fluid "milk" production and processed dairy products like yogurt and cheese.

Fathers play an important role in helping children understand emotions. Derek Thomson/Unsplash

Father’s Day: Lesser-known ways dads improve children’s lives

Audrey-Ann Deneault, University of Ottawa

Developmental psychology has uncovered some lesser-known, yet important ways that fathers improve their children’s lives.

Children report being at their happiest when playing outside. (Shutterstock)

From obesity to allergies, outdoor play is the best medicine for children

Mariana Brussoni, University of British Columbia

Adults must let go of their fears of injury and kidnapping. Children need free outdoor play to build physical immunity, psychological health, executive functioning and social skills.

La Conversation Canada

L’insomnie chronique pourrait avoir un effet néfaste sur la mémoire, en plus de favoriser d’autres problèmes de santé. Shutterstock

Un lien direct est établi entre l’insomnie chronique et les problèmes de mémoire chez les personnes âgées

Thanh Dang-Vu, Concordia University; Nathan Cross, Concordia University

L’insomnie chronique a un effet néfaste direct sur la mémoire, en plus de provoquer d’autres problèmes de santé. Elle pourrait aussi favoriser le développement de la maladie d'Alzheimer.

Business + Economy

Politics

Science + Technology

  • Curious Kids: why did the dinosaurs die?

    Caitlin Syme, The University of Queensland

    Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for about 180 million years. But around 66 million years ago, a huge rock from outer space (called an asteroid) smashed into the Earth. Then things got worse for dinosaurs.