With the expansion of digital media, local community newspapers who make paper copies are increasingly finding it difficult to print their product.
Web News, a respected printing service in North York, recently announced its closure after 27 years of business.
“Our official last day here will be Friday February 21st,” said Web News Office Assistant John Nguyen.
The closing of Web News presents a challenge for several community print-based newspapers who now must locate new printing services.
One of the businesses looking for a new place to print, The Weekly Orono Times, has been servicing the community of Orono for 88 years and printing with Web News for almost 14 years.
Searching for a new printer can be difficult with many not having the space to take on new clients who are in need of printing services.
“(Alternative printing services) are so busy now they can’t guarantee me press time,” said Julie Cashin-Oster, who acquired the paper seven years ago when explaining her experience in finding a new place to print.
Balancing cost, shipping distance and capacity all play a factor in deciding where to print.
“There’s nowhere in Durham set up specifically for web offset to print newspapers, now there are some that could possible print it if they have the size,” said Cashin Oster.
Another local paper, The Millbrook Times, which previously printed with Web News, has been exploring new avenues for printing their monthly paper by collaborating with Master Web Printing in Mississauga.
“I sent her (Master Web contact) my publication dates and she said she had room for one more weekly and one more monthly,” said Karen Graham, publisher at The Millbrook Times, while explaining the process of connecting with Master Web.
Terry McQuitty, publisher of the Lakefield Herald, has also switched from Web News to Master Web.
“It’s a little more money and a little better quality,” said McQuitty.
While the transition to new printing services presents its own set of hurdles, community papers remain resilient, adapting to new partners to continue delivering essential local news.
However, the move towards digital media continues to grow. According to Stats Canada, from 2020 to 2022 print circulation fell 12 per cent and digital circulation grew nearly 66 per cent.
Many local news outlets are unable to keep up with these changes, resulting in the shutdown of services and a loss of news presence in local areas. The Local News Research Project documented that from 2008 to 2022, 334 community newspapers closed while only 64 launched. These closures can leads to a lack of local information within communities, often referred to as news deserts.
This past August in Newfoundland, the province’s last remaining printing press announced it closing, with Unifor’s national president Lana Payne calling it a “dark day for journalism.”