A handful of Western Canadian Postmedia Network publications will stop producing Monday print editions, effective October 17. .“The decision reflects the rapidly changing news consumption habits of our readers, the needs of our advertisers and the escalating costs of printing and delivering a printed product,” said Postmedia editorial Senior Vice-president Gerry Nott in a Wednesday statement. .The Postmedia publications affected by this move are the Vancouver Sun, the Province, the Edmonton Journal, the Edmonton Sun, the Calgary Herald, and the Calgary Sun. .The statement said the Monday editions will be available as ePapers, so there will be no changes in the subscription rate. It said these publications will have the same stories, photos, columnists, and features people are accustomed to in the print formats. .Postmedia expects longer than usual wait times for people trying to complain by phone. To help save time, people are encouraged to use online resources to change their subscriptions. .“News happens 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and our commitment to you is to deliver it quickly, honestly and thoroughly as reader consumption habits continue to shift,” said Nott. .It was revealed in December Postmedia received $10.8 million from the media bailout, $40.3 million from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, and $1 million from the Quebec government’s media subsidy program. .Despite all of the funding, Postmedia shut down 15 community newspapers, scrapped 70 jobs, and reduced salaries of employees making more than $60,000 per year in 2020. .Postmedia recorded a $52.8 million net profit in 2021.
