The Northern Journal editorial board has published an editorial following the announcement of the closure of the Fort Smith newspaper’s print edition. The piece highlights the changing media landscape in Canada, especially for weekly papers in smaller communities, as well as the financial challenges faced by the NWT paper. Particularly concerning is the reduction in advertising from local businesses and the provincial government.
“Newspapers create jobs, contributing to the economy…and the direct benefits from the newspaper industry in the NWT far exceeds the cost of advertising,” the editorial reads. “Why would the GNWT, which says attracting new residents to the NWT is a priority, reduce advertising expenditures and eliminate those jobs?”
