This is the best summary I could come up with:

A federal program that funds hundreds of local journalists and underserved regions across the country is set to expire at the end of March, and the independent newsrooms that rely on it have no news about whether it will be renewed.

Without the Local Journalism Initiative in place, even more journalists’ livelihoods and Canadian news coverage overall are under threat, according to Jeanette Ageson, chair of Press Forward, an independent media advocacy group.

Michelle Gamage was hired by The Tyee, a Vancouver-based online news organization, last year as a health reporter funded by the LJI.

Gamage said she regularly hears from readers and sources — many of whom are at-risk individuals recounting traumatic events — who are pleasantly surprised when she takes the time to meet them in person and when they read important context in her stories, particularly about B.C.

Also on her wishlist are an end to fees for freedom of information requests in B.C., and for governments to take out advertising in independent media — an idea that Deegan also supports.

None of these measures replace the LJI, which is not only a fund but also acts as a wire service that makes local stories from underserved communities accessible to every news outlet.

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