Postmedia closing 15 community publications

Canada’s Postmedia is closing 15 community publications in Manitoba and Ontario and making other changes, the company announced April 29.

“In response to the economic impact throughout our industry in these unprecedented times, we have made the difficult decision to implement temporary salary reductions, temporary layoffs and some permanent closures,” said Andrew MacLeod, president and CEO, Postmedia, in a news release.

The measures include temporary layoffs affecting some 50 employees in sales and sales operations teams. The closure of the publications in Manitoba and Ontario will result in about 30 permanent layoffs and temporary salary reductions for a range of employees with salaries over $60,000. The measures will be re-evaluated in three months’ time, the company said.

The shuttered publications are Manitoba's Altona Red River Valley Echo, Carman Valley Leader, Gimli Interlake Spectator, Morden Times, Selkirk Journal, Stonewall Argus & Teulon Times, Winkler Times and The Prairie Farmer, BNN Bloomberg reported. The Ontario papers are the Kingsville Reporter, Lakeshore News (Windsor-Essex), LaSalle Post, Napanee Guide, Paris Star, Tecumseh Shoreline Week and Tilbury Times, BNN Bloomberg said.

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