Community Newspaper Threatened

Whispering in the Wind December 16, 2013 (WITW 9)

For me December has always been the month for reflection and the setting of goals for the upcoming year – never mind contending with the recent dumps of snow on my driveway and the buildups of ice near my front door.  Aside from the unusual, uncontrollable weather I do see a storm brewing in the Town of Smoky Lake over a recent decision by four councillors.  Their decision was to end the financial support given to the Smoky Lake Signal for the circulation of its newspaper to town ratepayers.

The December 4, 2013 Decision

At the Town of Smoky Lake Council meeting of December 4, 2013 there was a five minute discussion on the town’s long standing agreement with the Smoky Lake Signal to circulate newspapers to about 500 rate payers in the Town of Smoky Lake.  One councillor voiced that during her election campaign a number of businesses expressed their concern over the subsidy given to the Signal and why shouldn’t their businesses be “topped up” as well.  Another councillor indicated that he was elected to be a good manager and “a lot of budget cuts” were in order.  In the end Councillor Randy Mykitiuk moved to “cancel the bulk subscription program” with the Smoky Lake Signal – the four sitting councillors voted in favor of the motion, Mayor Brousseau was absent from the meeting and the vote.

Lorne Taylor’s Response

In the December 11 issue of the Smoky Lake Signal, owner and publisher of the Signal offered his response to the decision made by the town’s council.  Mr. Taylor explained that the dollar support (about $6,000 annually) is partly offset by a discount given to the town for advertising placed in the paper by the town (about $1,500 to $3,000 annually).  Mr. Taylor calculates the cost to the town to be $12 for each yearly subscription or approximately 25 cents per week per subscriber.  Mr. Taylor also points out that mailing charges are also a major factor in his business – for a $25 yearly subscription it costs the Signal $15 dollars in mailing charges if you live in the area.  Mr. Taylor concludes his open letter with a very disappointing comment: “We are not fighting the decision but another nail has been driven into the coffin of your community newspaper.  It is now up to the Smoky Lake 500 to show if they care by subscribing.”   

My Response

For me the thought of Lorne Taylor and the Signal struggling with Smoky Lake Town Council’s decision is heartbreaking but sooner or later reality sets in and it comes down to the question of the paper’s survival.  For me it is worth a few comments and suggestions:

1.       I’m not a historian but my feeling that when the agreement was first struck some 34 years ago it was a win, win situation for both the townspeople and the Signal.  In my view that situation still exists today. 

2.      The figures that Lorne outlined in his open letter indicate a greater “subsidy” than warranted – I feel the support is under $10.00 per bulk subscriber.  Last week’s announcement by Canada Post that postal rates might double, is bad news for the Signal and should be an indicator to the Town of Smoky Lake (and Smoky Lake County) that support of the Signal is critical.

3.      I think the purpose of a community newspaper is to offer information about what’s going on in the area, the events, the people and yes the politics.  I’ve been on the internet feed to get information and a feel of how the decisions were made at council meetings – the performance of the town website leaves a lot to be desired.

4.      During the December 4 meeting several words were used to describe the arrangement between the town and the Signal – incentive, subsidy – I’ve tried to use the word support.  Another way of looking at the arrangement is the Signal is offering a “service” to the community and therefore there should be a fee for surface.  With the decision made on December 4 that service has been withdrawn from the community.

5.      Another important element is the employment impact of the Signal’s operation.  My understanding is that there are three administrative employees; three reporters and at least two unpaid columnists like me – need I say more?

6.      I cannot speak for Lorne but I feel that more can be done to mend some broken fences.  I would appreciate some feedback, so please write to me at the Signal with your ideas – remember time is short.