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Express publisher blames aggressive competition from Black Press for closure
Last week the Express, a weekly paper in Nelson, announced it would be publishing its last paper in February.
Colin Payne of the Nelson Post recently spoke with owner and publisher Nelson Becker, who blames “aggressive competition” from the Black Press-owned Star. The Star offered lower advertising rates than the Express and became a twice-weekly paper after Black Press bought and closed the Nelson Daily News last year.
Becker brought the Express into the B.C.-Yukon Community Newspaper Association (BCYCNA) in 1992, and said he’s since seen the media landscape in the region and the province change significantly.
Becker said he’s seen a “huge change” in the industry as ownership shifts from many independent papers to Black Press owning roughly 80 per cent of the community papers in the province.
“This has had a great effect on my association (the BCYCNA) and upon, I think, the community’s ability to own its own media.”
That said, Becker says he’s not angry or resentful.
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Journo-jobs (Jan. 14)
Now that you’ve put in your award submissions, you can move on, if you want.
Here are your options this week:
Coast Reporter – Reporter
The Coast Reporter (a Glacier paper) is located in Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast, and looking for a reporter. (By the way, the Reporter should call up Google and ask them why their maps have Sechelt located up some massive inlet. The place isn’t THAT isolated.)
From Gaulin:
Our ideal candidate has a burning desire to be a reporter/photographer at a community newspaper in a variety of beats with a hard news focus covering municipal council, regional district, police and court, and some community features.
You need a degree and a willingness to work evenings. Closes Feb. 7.
Alberta
The Carstairs Courier (a Greatwest paper) needs an editor/reporter. Carstairs is a little north of Calgary. You’ll be doing everything. You need “more than just a proven grasp of journalism.” Fortunately, “story and photo ideas are endless,” so that’s a plus. No closing date given.
The Whitecourt Star and Mayerthorpe Freelancer (Quebecor papers) needs a general news reporter/photographer. The Star seems to be ALWAYS looking for people, for what it’s worth. Whitecourt’s northwest of Edmonton. You need an education and to know either Quark or InDesign (not sure how that works). Closes Jan. 21.
B.C. Reporter Reporter 