FAQ

How many daily newspapers are there in Canada?

As of April 2015 there were 105 daily newspapers in Canada; 92 of these newspapers are paid-for while the remaining 13 papers are free publications. The largest daily newspaper in Canada is the Toronto Star with a circulation of almost 2.4 million copies over the course of the a week. Click here for more information.

How many community newspapers are there in Canada?

There are over 1,000 community newspaper titles in Canada. Of these papers, 800 are members of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA).

Circulation – How many newspapers are circulated in Canada?

In 2014, Canada’s daily newspaper circulation (paid and free) stood at 5,312,018 copies on an average publishing day and 31,765,434 copies over the course of a week. As of June 2014, community newspapers published more than 20.6 million copies each week and the majority of circulation is free (controlled) accounting for 19.7 million copies weekly. Total circulation is 4.9% higher than 2013 with the growth coming from controlled circulation papers. Click here for more information.

Readership – How many Canadians read daily newspapers?

Daily newspapers continue to be strong news brands with 8 in 10 Canadians reading every week. The results of the latest release indicate that Canadians are still avid readers of newspaper content. Between 50 – 60% of Canadians read newspaper content every day, with print continuing to be the primary source. For the first time, total weekly readership across all platforms in the million+ markets has topped 10 million. Approximately 80% of the population in all of the markets measured read a newspaper over the course of the week, in either a printed or digital format. For more information about daily newspaper readership in major Canadian markets, visit the Vividata website at www.vividata.ca.

Readership – How many Canadians read community newspapers?

The most recent research from CCNA demonstrates that community newspaper readership remains strong. Three quarters of Canadians (73%) in non-urban centres read a community newspaper according to the 2013 study, Connecting to Canadians with Community Newspapers. The steady readership suggests that community newspapers continue to have strong readership in today’s new media landscape. Community newspapers continue to remain relevant to local residents for news, information and advertising. Click here to learn more about community newspaper readership.

What about online newspapers?

In 1994, The Halifax Daily News became Canada’s first daily newspaper to launch an online edition. Today, most newspapers are extending their reach beyond the core printed product and increasing their audience with online sites and apps for mobile and tablet devices. All daily newspapers in Canada and most of the over 1,000 community newspapers have an associated website.

Digital readership of online daily newspapers continues to be strong, despite a number of newspapers implementing access via paid subscription. Weekly digital reach ranges from 29% to 39%, with Halifax as the top digital readership market, followed by Winnipeg, Montreal and London according to NADbank.

Ownership – Who owns Canada’s daily newspapers?

As of April 2015 the majority of Canadian paid daily newspapers are under group ownership: Quebecor, 3; Postmedia Network Inc., 45; TC Media, 11; Groupe Capitals Media, 6; Power Corp. of Canada, 1; Glacier Media, 3; Torstar, 10; Continental Newspapers Canada, 3; Glacier Canadian Newspapers/Alta Newspaper Group Ltd., 3; Brunswick News Inc., 3; FP Canadian Newspapers, 2; Halifax Herald Ltd., 1; Black Press, 6, The Globe and Mail Inc., 1. There are 7 daily newspapers that are independent or privately-owned. Click here for more information.

Ownership – Who owns Canada’s community newspapers?

Currently, of the 1,031 community newspapers in Canada, 610 are corporately owned by one of 9 major corporate owners. The top corporate owners are as follows: Quebecor/Sun Media, 165; Torstar/Metroland Media Group, 112; Transcontinental Media, 101; Black Press, 84; Glacier Media Group, 76; Brunswick News, 20; Great West Newspapers, 18; Department of National Defence, 12 and Multimedia Nova, 12. Click here for more information.

Are newspapers environmentally friendly?

The Canadian newspaper industry’s contribution to environmental sustainability is significant, and we’re committed to doing more. Canada is a global leader in waste paper recovery, with some of the highest rates of waste diversion of old newspapers in the world. Canadians recycle 80% of their newsprint. Newspaper suppliers in the Canadian forest industry have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10 times what is required under Kyoto (Forest Products Association of Canada). In many provinces, newspapers partner with governments and waste management agencies to get the job done. To learn more about newspapers and the environment, read Newspapers Canada’s report Newspapers: A Green Choice.

What is the dollar value of Canada’s newspaper industry?

Total advertising revenue from Daily and Community Newspapers combined in 2014 was $2.6 billion. http://www.newspaperscanada.ca/about-newspapers/revenue

How many newspapers in Canada have paywalls?

As of April 2015, out of 105 Canadian daily newspapers, 38 have implemented some form of digital subscription service with many offering some form of combined print/digital subscription pricing option. Subscription fees for online content vary among different publications; some papers require readers purchase a paid subscription before accessing any of their online content while others have established metered access models (ie: first 10 articles are free and then readers are asked to pay). One newspaper (La Presse) offers a free tablet edition (La Presse+).

How does newspaper advertising stack up against the competition?

According to a 2010 study by Totum Research Inc., advertising in newspapers is trusted more than any other medium. Six of ten Canadians (61%) say they’d rather look at the ads in a newspaper than watch advertisements on TV. That view is shared in nearly equal proportions across all demographic groupings – gender, age, education, and household income. The study showed that, compared to other media, newspaper ads (in print and online) are most likely to help source a bargain and inspire purchases.

What is a typical daily newspaper workforce?

At a large daily, about 15% of the workforce would be editorial; promotion and advertising would comprise 10%; production and maintenance, 45%; business and administration 15% and circulation, 15%. Click here for more information about careers available in the newspaper industry.

Which is the oldest newspaper in Canada?

Canada lays claim to having the oldest surviving newspaper in North America. The Quebec Gazette was established in Quebec City on June 21, 1764. The Quebec Gazette survives today as the roots of the weekly Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. The next oldest newspaper is the U.S.’s Hartford Courant in Connecticut. It was first issued on Oct. 29, 1764. (Source, W. H. Kesterton’s “A History of Journalism in Canada”, 1966)

The Montreal Gazette is Canada’s oldest continuously published newspaper. It was launched on June 3, 1778, by Fleury Mesplet.

The Kingston Whig-Standard, which lays claim to being the oldest continually-published DAILY newspaper in Canada, has daily roots that go back to 1849 when the British Whig became “Canada West’s” first successful daily. The Kingston Whig-Standard was established in 1924 after the merger of the British Whig and Kingston Standard.

The first daily in British North America was the Daily Advertiser in Montreal (1833). (Source, W. H. Kesterton’s “A History of Journalism in Canada”, 1966)


More information about Canadian daily and community newspapers can be found by visiting the Industry Reports page.

If you have a specific question, please contact info@newspaperscanada.ca.