Digital-first sound familiar?This is the quote from Boynton in the Canadian Press story from yesterday: "“This is not a newspaper launch. This is a ‘news’ launch in those markets,” said Boynton. “And it’s a digital-first launch.” This all could have been lifted directly from Paul Godfrey circa 2010. How has that worked out for Postmedia in the last 8 years as they have hollowed out every newsroom in their company?
Look at the newsrooms at Torstar today and ask where the renewed investment is for them? The daily newspapers they acquired from Postmedia have been stripped clean by a succession of cost-cutting former owners Thomson, Osprey, Hollinger, Sun Media and Postmedia. For instance, newspapers like The Peterborough Examiner don't have enough staff to organize a bridge game in their newsroom. How does throwing 20 journalist into the hyper-competitive western Canada markets make any economic sense?
I don't think this is a scam to throw the Competition Bureau off the trail, although I wouldn't put it past them. This doomed investment will last 12 - 15 months before they pack up their tents and retreat to One Yonge Street. The only way it will last longer is if Godfrey makes a pronoucement that it's a bad idea....