Postmedia cuts 30 per cent of news jobs at St. John's Telegram paper in takeover
About 30 per cent of newsroom jobs have been cut at a 145-year-old daily newspaper in St. John's, N.L., following a takeover by Postmedia.
Keith Gosse, head of the union representing workers at The Telegram, says staff learned Wednesday that four of the paper's 13 newsroom positions will be eliminated.
As well, Saturday will be the paper's last daily print edition, as it is moving to a weekly print version beginning next week with daily news online.
Gosse says there were more than 40 people working in the newsroom when he first started at The Telegram in 1986.
Postmedia's takeover of The Telegram is part of its acquisition of the insolvent SaltWire Network Inc. and the Halifax Herald Ltd., which together formed Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain.
The Toronto-based media company, which owns the National Post and many other properties, chose not to buy The Telegram's printing plant in St. John's, leaving its future in doubt.
"With no buyer to operate the plant, the plant is going to shut down," Gosse said in an interview. "So that's another 17 people out of work, and that doesn't include office staff, sales clerks and customer service reps."
Postmedia's acquisition of SaltWire and the Halifax Herald is expected to be finalized on Saturday.
"I just wish people knew what the effect of losing small-town, local journalists all over the world is," Gosse said. "Local journalism keeps people informed about their neighbours and what's going on in their communities. It keeps people together."
Gosse said three of the newsroom employees whose jobs have been cut are now in a "transitional phase," meaning they may be brought back as permanent employees. However, they would replace someone with less seniority and bump them out of a job.
The eliminated newsroom positions include the paper's photojournalists, including Gosse's role.
The Telegram's political reporter, Juanita Mercer, won a National Newspaper Award last year for reporting that pushed the Newfoundland and Labrador government to introduce pay equity legislation. The paper regularly wins Atlantic Journalism Awards for its in-depth coverage on important issues, including the wildly over-budget Muskrat Falls hydroelectricity project and the filthy conditions inside the province's largest correctional facility.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING 2 dead, third in critical condition after attack in Kingston, Ont., suspect arrested
Two people are dead and a third suffered life-threatening injuries following an attack at an encampment in Kingston, Ont. Thursday. A suspect has been arrested following a multi-hour standoff.
TIFF pauses screenings of documentary about Russian soldiers due to 'significant threats'
The Toronto Film Festival says it has been forced to pause the screenings of a documentary about Russian soldiers this weekend, citing 'significant threats to festival operations and public safety.'
Trump rules out another debate against Harris as her campaign announces US$47M haul in hours afterward
Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out another presidential debate against Kamala Harris as her campaign announced a massive fundraising haul in the hours after the two candidates met on stage.
'Keep your bags packed': Consul general grilled over $9M NYC condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark is testifying on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
This Italian lawyer says he thought he was buying a regular print of Churchill, not the 'mythical' stolen portrait
When Nicola Cassinelli, Italian lawyer and occasional art collector, bid on a portrait of the late U.K. prime minister Winston Churchill, he says, he didn't know it would land him in the centre of an international criminal investigation.
Georgia judge dismisses two criminal counts against Trump, court filing shows
A Georgia judge on Thursday dismissed two criminal counts in the U.S. state's 2020 election interference case against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and one other count against allies of the former president.
Family of Sikh man speaks out against Toronto-area hospital after beard shaved
The family of a Sikh man from Brampton is seeking an apology, an explanation, and a promise to do better from the local hospital network after they say the facial hair of their loved one was removed without their consent.
NEW N.B. premier’s asylum seeker comments spark controversy
Claims from New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs that Ottawa wants to force the province to take in 4,600 asylum seekers are "largely fictitious," says federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
Ottawa resident who tested positive for mosquito-borne virus dies, public health says
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.