(650 CKOM)

By paNOW Staff

hiatus

Sask. Indigenous newspaper to go on hiatus

Feb 15, 2024 | 7:04 PM

After nearly 30 years in the business, a Saskatchewan newspaper is making some tough decisions for its future.

Eagle Feather News, based out of Saskatoon, announced earlier this week it was going on hiatus after 27 years due to a steep decline in ad revenue.

In a statement on its website, Editor-In-Chief Kerry Benjoe said the Online News Act and the blocking of news from Facebook and Instagram led to a drop in their ad sales.

Last year, the federal government passed the Online News Act which required tech giants to pay media companies for the news content shared on their websites.

Although an agreement has been reached with Google, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, continues to block Canadian news content on those platforms.

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“Advertising is how we are able to pay our writers to produce the content for our monthly paper and our website,” Benjoe said in the statement. “These funds also pay for our printing and shipping costs, as well as all other operating expenses.

“Up until December, we were able to continue producing content thanks to the support from the Local Journalism Initiative.”

Benjoe referenced other companies that, in the past few months, have hit difficult times. Just last week, BCE, which owns Bell Media cut 4,800 jobs and sold more than 40 of its regional radio stations.

CBC and Radio-Canada announced in December it was going to shed roughly 800 jobs in 2024.

Staff at Eagle Feather News will be brainstorming how to keep the news company afloat including the option of moving to an online-only news portal. However, Benjoe noted that this would require a massive upgrade to its website and the introduction of a mobile app.

She said that if a viable solution can’t be found, the company might have to make the tough decision to fold entirely.

“But our dedicated team at Eagle Feather will do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Benjoe.

“We are asking for support from the community, businesses, First Nations, and organizations whether it’s through words of encouragement, testimonials, sponsorships, partnerships, or the purchase of online ads.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com