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Another Newspaper Goes Silent

Jan 23, 2014 | 9:57 AM

Canadian Press
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The last edition of the Kamloops Daily News rolled off the presses Saturday, days after the paper announced it had given employees two months' notice.

Rob Munro, spokesman for Unifor, Local 2000, says it's best for everyone to cease operations quickly so people don't have to work in a demoralizing environment.

Publisher Tim Shoults has said he's saddened about the closure but that it was necessary because of declining revenues and a failure to sufficiently cut costs. “Personally I am very saddened to make this announcement,” said Shoults. “We have struggled for the last several years, worked tirelessly and taken many difficult steps along the way which were designed to ensure our future. Unfortunately the realities of our industry, our local advertising market and our labour situation were too great for us to overcome.”

The paper, which has a circulation of nearly 27,000, announced Monday that it would cease publication after 80 years and that 55 part- and full-time employees would lose their jobs.

The closure comes three months after parent company Glacier Media (TSX:GVC) decided to contract out ad production to India and the Philippines for several B.C. newspapers.

The end of the newspaper after about 80 years, and the fact that the bustling community of about 83,000 people will be without a daily paper, dramatically highlights the challenges facing the newspaper industry as past models for financial success are challenged by shifts in advertising, declining circulation and the Internet.

Mel Rothenburger, editor in chief for 34 years and a former Kamloops mayor, said the demise held out a warning to newspapers across Canada.

“It is an indication that newspapers have to keep changing and that they have to face up to the challenge of social media and, at the same time, they have to find ways to contain costs and continue to do good journalism. That’s not a small challenge.” He added: “It’s a warning to the industry because it was such a sudden and final decision.”

While Mr. Rothenburger, who left the paper in 2012, was aware of challenges facing the Daily News, he said it was a shock to hear last week that the paper would shut down.

Kamloops is not the first community to lose the printed newspaper. In 2013 the Meadow Lake Progress closed after more than 80 years, citing falling revenues. Dailies have also closed in Nelson and Prince Rupert in recent years.