(File photo/paNOW)
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P.A. Daily Herald continues to press on despite loss of printing facility

Jan 28, 2025 | 4:00 PM

One of Saskatchewan’s oldest newspapers is no stranger to overcoming hurdles.

Several years ago, employees of the Prince Albert Daily Herald purchased the newspaper from the owner Star News Publishing, in an effort to keep the publication alive. This month, the group faced another challenge with the announcement of their press plant in Estevan closing as of Jan. 31.

“We received a call from the plant manager in November,” said publisher and owner Donna Pfeil. “The Estevan team has been great to work with. We made the move to Estevan press the same week we bought the paper in May of 2018 bringing everything home to Saskatchewan.”

The printing press in the southeast Saskatchewan town is owned by Glacier Media. The company’s Community Newspaper Group also ended production of the only newspaper in Estevan this month. The Mercury had been in publication for 122 years. Its last edition was released Jan. 1.

The Prince Albert Daily Herald isn’t the only local publication affected by the closure of the province’s last operational printing press. A reporter for The Shellbrook Chronicle and Spiritwood Herald said in a recent editorial that they were joining dozens of other newspapers across the province in the search for new printing options.

“Over the past month, the Shellbrook Chronicle and Spiritwood Herald has sought printing quotes from companies in Alberta and Manitoba. Almost without exception, these quotes have come back at almost triple the printing cost, which is not sustainable without greater community support,” wrote Jordan Twiss.

(The Shellbrook Chronicle/Facebook)

Determined to continue providing their communities with printed newspapers, both have begun using a press plant in Alberta for their daily, weekly and monthly editions.

“Our drivers, who are local community members, will drive through the night into the early hours to have our daily paper ready for our carriers at 4 a.m. each morning,” said Pfeil.

“We will continue to have a print publication of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. We will continue to overcome the challenges ahead and thank everyone for their support. A subscription to the paper goes a long way in keeping our community from losing its daily paper,” she said.

Twiss ended his editorial by saying, “To continue serving our communities in the face of significantly increased operational costs, we need to see stronger support from local businesses and community groups in the form of advertising.”

panews@pattisonmedia.com

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