September 28, 2023 ·
Comment:
The final print version of the Orangeville Banner hit Dufferin County’s doorsteps on Sept. 15.
The Banner and other Metroland Media local newspapers will soon be moving to an all-digital model, as the parent company seeks bankruptcy protection and tries a restructuring in accordance with the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Roughly 60 per cent of Metroland’s total workforce, or 605 employees, have been laid off.
Metroland has said that it does not have enough funds to pay severance for employees affected by staffing reductions. However, those who were affected can file a claim to recover the money they are owed during the restructuring.
Unifor Local 87-M, representing 106 of Metroland’s unionized employees, issued a statement expressing their dismay with the media conglomerate’s decision not to pay the contractually obligated severances. The union has announced that it will take legal action.
Waterman noted that the print media landscape has changed significantly over the past few years. These changes have had an impact on the viability printed news.
“Our newsrooms became digital first – meaning all stories, big or small, were available on our websites before they were published in print, and, as advertising dollars and newspapers shrunk, many stories never made it to print at all,” Waterman’s letter reads.
“The pandemic and continued losses in revenue pushed us out of our newsrooms and left us working virtually. Our ranks have shrunk dramatically. Becoming a digital-only business is the next step in our evolution – precipitated by the loss of revenue from print advertising and our flyer distribution business, as well as the stranglehold Big Tech has on digital advertising.”
Metroland is committed to local journalism, and she says that Metroland will continue to provide readers with local news.
The Orangeville Citizen and Shelburne Free Press are owned independently. They will continue to serve their community for many more years.