Friday, July 09, 2010

Atamanenko critical of Black Press closing Nelson Daily News and other dailies

Penticton Herald staff Friday, July 9, 2010:
The closure of the Nelson Daily News and the loss of 25 jobs in the Kootenay city is another blow to rural B.C., says B.C. Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko. The New Democrat MP was reacting to Wednesday‘s announcement that Victoria-based media chain Black Press is shutting down four of the 11 papers it purchased from Glacier Media, including the Nelson Daily News, Prince Rupert Daily, Quesnel Advisor and 100 Mile House Advisor. Black Press also purchased two other papers in the Kootenay-Boundary region – the Trail Times and Grand Forks Gazette – which will remain in operation. In a letter to company president David Black, Atamanenko called for the CEO‘s reconsideration of the Nelson paper‘s closure. “Nelson‘s local economy has again taken a hit,” he said. “You have just fired 25 people who support families and business in this small community of 9,298 people. In the City of Vancouver that would be equivalent to
firing 1,560 people.”

He noted The Nelson Daily News has been publishing for over 100 years. Its closure will mean the loss of an important daily tool in community life and the businesses community. Atamanenko also expressed concern about the increased concentration of ownership of print media in the province. “This could have serious consequences, diminishing the diversity of voices heard in our communities, given less competition,” he said. Black Press owns more than 100 publications in communities throughout B.C., Alberta and three U.S. states, including the Penticton Western and Summerland Review.

3 comments:

Kalwest said...

Perhaps the NDP MLA might consider taking over the paper himself and subsidize the losses from his MLA salary.

Why is it that all the Left Wing Liberal Pinko's are so good at telling people how to run a business, but they have never even run a popsicle stand. IE: Glen Clark and his band of merry Bolsheviks in the 90's.

Anonymous said...

Interesting comment Robert.
Especially interesting since that paragon of capitalism, Jimmy Pattison hired that little bolshevik to run one of his businesses.

Kalwest said...

Yes I understand your comment, but you have to consider that Jimmy organized the business round table for Glen Clark and then two weeks after same, his billboard advertising company received the contracts from BC Transit and also Vancouver Magazine got the contracts for all the news magazines stands on BC Ferries.

A little payback I assume.