Finance Minister Bill Morneau is expected to outline a plan next week to help journalism remain viable – after years of shrinking advertising revenues.

The measures are anticipated to be part of Morneau’s fall economic statement.

The dramatic decline in ad revenue has already closed newsrooms, led to job cuts in many others, and eroded coverage of key democratic institutions across Canada.

The federal Liberals committed $50 million dollars over five years for local journalism in “underserved communities” in last winter’s budget – and also pledged to look for additional ways to support Canadian journalism.