BROCKVILLE – A Brockville newspaper, four Ottawa papers and a Kingston paper will be closed under a deal between Postmedia Network Inc. and two subsidiaries of Torstar Corporation.
Postmedia announced today (Monday) it’s buying 22 of Torstar’s community newspaper properties and two commuter daily newspapers. In return, it will sell 17 newspapers to Torstar.
Brockville’s St. Lawrence News, Metro Ottawa, Ottawa East News, Ottawa South News and Ottawa West News and Kingston Heritage are among the 22 properties being acquired by Postmedia.
“Postmedia intends to continue operating the Exeter Times-Advocate and the Exeter Weekender and will close the remainder of the acquired properties – which are located in areas serviced by multiple publications – by mid-January,” the company said in a statement.
Postmedia President Andrew MacLeod said they are under increased pressure from “digital giants” for ad dollars.
The transaction doesn’t need regulatory approval under the Competition Act, the company said.
Postmedia is the parent company of the Brockville Recorder & Times.
Local reaction on social media:
As a former newspaper person, my thoughts today are with everyone at the St. Lawrence News @InBrockville Like all who know how vital local news sources and journalists are to our communities, I’m saddened by the loss of so many small-town newspapers.
— Steve Clark (@SteveClarkPC) November 27, 2017