Torstar and Postmedia announced a deal to swap 41 total newspapers today.
On Nov. 27, 2017, 290 staff at 37 papers found out they were losing their jobs in one fell swoop.
Postmedia and Torstar announced a deal to swap a total of 41 newspapers. Torstar immediately closed 13 papers, and Postmedia will close 24 by mid-January. You can get all the details here.
Among those losing their jobs are community reporters and editors who kept communities informed. Here are some of the people who have been laid off.
I'm mostly at a loss for words this morning, but everyone who I worked with at Metro were fantastic journalists and fantastic people. (Someone should hire @MetroRyan pretty much immediately.) Everyone who has sent me some support, I honestly love you all.
— Kieran Delamont (@k_delamont) November 27, 2017
Today's Metro Ottawa is officially a collector's edition. I really hope there aren't any typos I missed.
— Ryan Tumilty (@RyanTumilty) November 27, 2017
Metro Ottawa’s last editorial meeting. pic.twitter.com/mbojmyZPhC
— Ryan Tumilty (@RyanTumilty) November 27, 2017
Well, that was fun. Thanks, everyone. @OrilliaPacket @BarrieExaminer #Freedom35 pic.twitter.com/rUcMLMCz8u
— Patrick Bales (@patrickbales) November 27, 2017
It's now official. TorStar is closing @OrilliaPacket and @BarrieExaminer effective today. I am officially unemployed for the first time. It's a sad day for the media business, democracy, our community and my family. I had been at The Packet since 1991?
— Dave Dawson (@DaveDawson67) November 27, 2017
This news hits hard. I was proud of the work we did at the Barrie Examiner & was fortunate to work with so many wonderful & talented people. What a sad day.
— Gene Pereira (@GenePereira1) November 27, 2017
As of now i am unemployed.
The @TheNorfolkNews @brantnews have been closed down as of now.I am now looking for a job.#PartyLikeAJournalist
— Darryl Smart (@DarrylSmart1) November 27, 2017
So @Brantnews and @TheNorfolkNews has been closed, for good, by its new owners along with lots of other former Metroland Torstar newspapers. Yours truly and many more are unemployed.
— Michael Peeling (@mppeeling) November 27, 2017
Thank You London. Please look for my column in Thursday's paper and online. I will thank you properly then. #ldnont
— Scott B Taylor (@TaylorInLondon) November 27, 2017
Well, my new reality. Six weeks left of covering the amazing #LdnOnt stories I have enjoyed so much. But, stories still need to be told, so don't forget about us! https://t.co/qZzjhM5Xya
— Sean Meyer (@Newswriter22) November 27, 2017
It has been an absolute pleasure working for Metro Winnipeg. This small team worked damn hard every day to put together a newspaper and website. Thanks for reading, sharing and writing to us.
— Lucy Scholey (@LucyScholey) November 28, 2017
We will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.
H.G. Watson was J-Source's managing editor from 2015 to 2018. She is a journalist based in Toronto. You can learn more about her at hgwatson.com.
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