After covering elections and problems around the coronation, high., For more than a century, the revision of eastern Alberta published its final edition last week.
The newspaper was launched in 1911, the first issue arose months before the coronation was incorporated.
In its 114th year delivering the news, the newspaper reached 26,000 homes in more than 90 communities east of the Red Deer, according to the Joyce Webster editor and owner.
“I have been here 44 years, taking out the newspaper. Therefore, it will probably be a bit of hole in my life,” he said in the Calgary Eyeopener Last Tuesday.
“It is sad because the community cannot obtain information from its local meetings of the Council or the rhythm of the crime.”
Webster said he is ready to retire and tried to sell the newspaper, but could not find a buyer.
“Much of advertising, unfortunately, has gone to social networks,” he said.
The last nail in the coffin for the revision of the East Central de Alberta, added Webster, was a change in the advertising email of Canada Post.
Last year, the postal service stopped delivering newspapers with commercial inserts, such as the flyers that advertised local businesses, Canadians who enrolled in the consumer choice program, which allows people to choose not to receive advertising mail, according to Canada Post.
“When that happened, it literally took another $ 24,000 at the bottom of my final result. Therefore, it was not literally feasible to continue,” Webster said.
Dozens of other Alberta media closed
From 2008 to last month, 62 media closed in Alberta, according to the local news research project, led by a group of Canadian journalism researchers.
During that same time, 23 new points of sale were opened in the province.
Throughout the country, 529 local media closed in 351 communities.
“Organizations seem to be under great tension,” said Tyler Nagel, a journalism instructor in SAIT and the doctoral candidate, added that many community documents face a strong reduction in advertising income.
“Similarly, in many cities, they are seeing a reduction in readers as aging populations continue to decrease and young people seem to be less interested in the news or, in some cases, leave communities.”
Nagel compares local local journalists with local firefighters departments: both go to work when disasters hit or problems arise.
“When an important issue faces a community, having that professional target source of information that can go back against the statements made on social networks or clarify the record of a community. That is really important for all who live there,” he said.
Newspapers in Clarsholm, three hills face challenges
The capital of Three Hills has been printing local news since 1916. Meanwhile, the local press of Claresholm awaits her centenary next year.
Both have faced huge challenges adapted to the changing advertising environment.
“You are always competing with social networks,” said Rob Vogt, editor of Local Press Claresholm, about the OyarioopoR Last Thursday. “Everyone has a platform now. Everyone can basically publish their own newspaper.”
General Motors was a great source of advertising income for Three Hills Capital, before the car company closed its concessionaires in three hills and its surroundings, according to editor Tim Shearlaw.
“Suddenly, General Motors decided that he had ended for small dealers,” he said in the Eyoper.
“We lost thousands of dollars in that regard. And, of course, an attraction for the community, because in a rural community, a car dealership is an anchor.”
Despite the challenges, both newspapers plan to continue publishing a lot in the future.
“We survive the pandemic and we have seen an increase in recent years,” said Shearlaw. “We are a family operation, and we continue to draw a product from which we are very proud.”
“We have survived everything, you know. That includes depression and the two world wars,” Vogt said. “I think we will continue all the time we can.”
The Review of the East Alberta Central officially closes its doors today.
