Tara Henley Sounds Alarm on the Affordability Crisis
An eye-opening conversation with Canadian Journalist Tara Henley
Ever since I first discovered Tara Henley's work about a year ago, I've been an ardent admirer. Her decision to part ways with CBC and embark on an independent journey with Substack was not only bold but a testament to her commitment to journalistic integrity.
I make it a point to tune into her work; her ability to engage with a myriad of viewpoints and her incisive questioning never fail to impress. Henley’s podcast is a treasure trove of diverse opinions and deep dives into pressing subjects.
I invited Tara back on to synthesize all that she’s learned and give us insights on key issues like the polarization of the media, how the internet broke the business model for media, the affordability crisis, how to fix the CBC, and her tremendous growth on Substack.
As I sat down with Tara Henley—a voice of clarity in the tumultuous landscape of modern media—I found myself ushered into a world where the digital revolution and social realities intersect profoundly. Henley’s insights, drawn from her deeply analytical mind, offered a narrative both sobering and enlightening.
In our expansive conversation, Henley peeled back the layers on the complex relationship between the Internet’s emergence and the media’s ensuing financial quandary. She delineated how platforms such as Craigslist and Kijiji rerouted the once-lucrative stream of classified ads, bleeding dry a once-thriving revenue source for traditional media.
But it wasn't just the classifieds; the entire advertising model had been usurped by the tailored precision of big tech's data-driven advertising, leaving conventional media methods in the dust.
Yet, Henley’s reflections didn’t stop at the media’s financial disruption. She took a poignant turn to the stark reality gripping countless households—the affordability crisis. In her characteristic no-nonsense manner, Henley described a society grappling with basic needs, from the daunting scarcity of affordable housing to the essentials of stable accommodation and reasonably priced groceries. With the opioid crisis looming large, she called for a recentering of our discourse on these pressing material conditions that define the quality of life for many.
Our dialogue naturally flowed to the complex issue of political biases within publicly funded news outlets. Addressing the challenges conservative figures face in this media milieu, Henley acknowledged the left-leaning tilt of many news organizations.
She proposed a solution that could serve as a starting point for reform: a mandate review for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), suggesting that this could be a pathway to greater diversity of thought within public media.
Henley was unequivocal in her stance against defunding the CBC, especially amidst the current media volatility. She underscored the need for a legacy media platform, a common square where news remains free and accessible to all—fundamental for an informed public and a thriving democracy.
Throughout the interview, Henley's perspective was not one of mere critique but of potential and hope. She envisioned a media landscape that embraces innovation and inclusivity while upholding the foundational principles of journalistic integrity and public service.
As I reflected on Henley’s words, it became clear that the issues at hand are more than fodder for academic debate. They are real, lived experiences that demand both our attention and action. Henley's perspective is a call to awareness and a prompt to pivot towards more equitable and sustainable models in both our media practices and societal structures.
As always I find Tara Henley to be an incredibly insightful thinker, providing a balanced perspective on the most complex of topics. I highly recommend listeners check out my latest interview with her but also the
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