Postmedia is ending standalone print editions at six northern Ontario newspapers and shutting down the North Bay printing facility that has serviced them, according to an internal company email obtained by BayToday.
The Elliot Lake Standard, The Sault Star, The Sudbury Star, The Timmins Daily Press, The North Bay Nugget and Espanola’s Mid-North Monitor will all move to all-digital formats. The North Bay printing facility will close on October 31, a change the company says will affect 11 employees in printing and distribution. Separately, the Cochrane Times-Post will stop publishing entirely at the end of October.
Postmedia said no editorial positions are being eliminated as part of these changes. The Nugget currently employs two local reporters.
Digital-First Strategy
In the email, Postmedia framed the shift as part of a broader push toward digital publishing, saying it is “investing in our digital future and making thoughtful decisions about our print offerings to strengthen our publications, deepen our relationship with readers and advertisers, and promote the growth of our business.”
The company said the six affected publications will transition to a new platform called “Project Polaris,” described as a “next-generation experience for readers to access and engage with our journalism.” Postmedia said the platform is also meant to strengthen ties between local and regional reporting while giving advertisers greater visibility and reach.
New Weekly Print Product
Despite ending standalone print runs at the six papers, Postmedia said it plans to introduce a new weekly print publication called “Northern News This Week,” which will feature a curated selection of reporting drawn from multiple markets.
The company reiterated that “trusted local journalism is at the heart of our brands” and said it remains committed to serving the northern Ontario market. It acknowledged that the changes affecting employees were difficult but said they were made with a focus on the journalism communities rely on and the long-term sustainability of its publications. The email closed by thanking staff for their continued support.
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