Postmedia Network replaces 10 daily newspaper publishers with 3 regional managers
In a bold step for the company, Postmedia Network has fired three publishers, eliminated the position entirely and replaced oversight of its 10 newspapers with three managers for the eastern, Prairies and B.C. regions.
By Tamara Baluja
In a bold step for the company, Postmedia Network has fired three publishers, eliminated the position entirely and replaced oversight of its 10 newspapers with three managers for the eastern, Prairies and B.C. regions.
“What we have created is a functional reporting structure where specialized areas each report into one senior leader rather than duplicating so many efforts at each of our ten newspapers,” said Postmedia Network CEO and president Paul Godfrey in an internal memo sent Tuesday.
Marty Klyne, publisher of the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Guy Huntingford, publisher of the Calgary Herald and John Connolly, publisher of the Edmonton Journal, have been let go.
Gerry Nott, currently publisher and editor-in-chief of the Ottawa Citizen, will take over control of the Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, Windsor Star and National Post as senior vice-president for the Eastern Region. Alan Allnutt, publisher and editor of The Gazette, will manage the Prairie newspapers StarPhoenix, Leader-Post, Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald. Meanwhile Pacific Newspaper Group president Gordon Fisher will continue to manage Postmedia’s two Vancouver-based dailies, The Province and the Sun.
Related content on J-Source:
- Read the Postmedia memo on changes to management
- Opinion: Gordon Fisher, Don't blame reporters and editors for the problems of the newspaper industry
- Layoffs coming at Vancouver Sun and The Province
- Postmedia employees spent $100,000 on U.S. and international roaming charges since September
Marty Beneteau, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Windsor Star, will continue as editor-in chief at that paper. National Post's publisher Doug Kelly remains with the organization, said Postmedia spokeswoman Phyllise Gefland, although his new role has yet to be determined.
[node:ad]Postmedia’s revenue dropped 10 per cent in the second quarter, showing a $14.2-million net loss. These management shuffles are the latest in the series of moves to downsize the company and reduce expenses as advertising revenues fall.
“This much change takes careful consideration, planning and timing. In spite of that it may feel we’ve gone too far and too fast,” Godfrey added. “The leadership of our company believes these changes are the right changes to strengthen the operations of our business and allow for the acceleration of our strategy.”
Postmedia also announced several other management shuffles.
Lou Clancy will head up all content development and editorial functions across the organization as the new senior vice president of Content, while Wendy Desmarteaux will take charge of all digital operations as senior vice president of Transformation and Digital. Postmedia is also centralizing its sales operations and creating a senior group of sales leaders led by senior vice president for advertising sales Brandon Grosvenor.
Tamara Baluja is an award-winning journalist with CBC Vancouver and the 2018 Michener-Deacon fellow for journalism education. She was the associate editor for J-Source from 2013-2014.
May 1, 2013
If Postmedia has begun firing
If Postmedia has begun firing publishers, it won't be long before we get an announcement the Vancouver Sun and Province are combining.
The only reason there are two papers with a single owner in the Lower Mainland is historical: Back in yonder year they wanted to stop any competitor from entering the market with something livelier, more relevant and cheaper to run. Any vestige of fear Pacific Media felt about competition probably ended 20 years ago, so it's a miracle they haven't yet combined.
I imagine The Sun will be the survivor, since the Province has always needed to justify its existence. But that part of Pacific Media has probably NEVER contributed to the owners' profits, so its fate is pretty much sealed.
Look on the bright side. This is a real opportunity for the combined outfit to be honest with what really gets management excited about Metro Vancouver. Instead of the curious and vague "Seriously Westcoast," I suggest they get come out of the closet once and for all: "Obsessed With House Prices."
Refreshing!
May 2, 2013
i am asking this here but it
i am asking this here but it could be posted anywhere. while technology is wonderful, it comes at precisely the wrong time – more people than ever, fewer and fewer jobs. how will everyone eat? and live? is this supposed to be better? we have known for a long time that a society pools its resources in various ways, in part because it has to do so for the society to survive. a slice of that is the creation of work that one person can do for others. perhaps it is job creation, in a way, but as a society we have benefited from it. we have been able to raise our standard of living, educate our children and go on holidays to exotic places.
journalism grew out of a need to know and was coopted by the corporations. they now see the papers as superfluous cost centres, not providers of important news. they do not want exposes on house prices in vancouver. don't delude yourself that they will become leaner and meaner. they will carry on exactly as before – whichever before brings in the most cash. it won't be exposes, people want "happy news"
by providing the means for most people to do most work for themselves we are cutting our own throats as we merrily play our games. when magazines come out with a story such as "you can soon be your own doctor" you have to ask when this all went off the rails…..and how will it end.