By JANET E. SILVER
Instead of taking a summer vacation, many journalists were given a permanent break from their jobs as media executives blamed shrinking audiences for the downsizing.
The ongoing decline in the industry leaves a shrinking pool of journalists to inform the public on public-interest issues and to hold powerful interests to account. Some small markets have become news deserts.
In June, nearly three dozen Global News employees in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario were let go, with at least four positions in the Ottawa bureau and seven in Toronto eliminated.
According to an internal Global News memo, the cuts were “designed to prepare our news division for more economic pressure, as the industry continues to evolve, as larger international tech giants offer content and advertising platforms directly to Canadians and monopolize the Canadian advertising landscape.”
The following month, Corus Entertainment — the parent company of Global News — warned more cuts were coming. Corus Co-Chief Executive John Gossling said the company’s goal is to reduce its full-time workforce by 25 per cent, roughly 800 jobs.
Co-CEO Troy Reeb said small markets (local news) are struggling. It is “where the focus of our restricting efforts has been and will continue to be,” he said.
In August, Corus closed Hamilton’s 900 CHML radio station and cut more national news staff and others working in their local outlets.
Bell Media also announced in June it was cutting 43 technicians from its roster. This followed the company’s decision in February to slash 4,800 jobs in its media division, put 45 radio stations up for sale and reduce local newscasts across the country.
On the print side, the National Post announced its purchase of the Saltwire Network Inc. and the Halifax Herald for $1 million in late August. Sixty staff were let go with the takeover and The Telegram in St John’s, N.L. was forced to close its daily print edition as part of the sale. Journalists at Saltwire have been told to expect more job losses as the summer cuts bleed into more downsizing in the fall.
Janet is vice-president of WPFC.
