5 jobs axed as SaltWire merges central Newfoundland newspapers

Five people are out of a job because four central Newfoundland newspapers are being foldedinto one.

SaltWire Network, which publishesthe Halifax Chronicle Herald,announced the restructuring Friday morning.

The company bought all of Transcontinental's news outlets in P.E.I, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador lastyear.

Central Newfoundland will be served by a new and free publication, The Central Voice, starting Aug. 1.

The Pilot, The Advertiser, The Nor'wester and The Beacon all published their last editions on July 26.

The buildings that housed the newspaper operations will close Aug. 11.

Despite the job cuts, the president and CEO of SaltWire Network says the new publication willfeature "more in-depth and extended coverage."

"This includes stronger local coverage, editorial content and more space for community organizations to submit and share their good work," saidMark Lever in a media release.

Company had said 'not aplan to shut down'

Friday's announcement follows a decision in June by SaltWire, which owns The Telegram, to ditch paid subscriptions of the Carbonear Compass in favour of free distribution a move that also resulted in one job loss.

Company representatives said the move would boost circulation to over 10,000 up from the current 4,000 paid subscribers.

That building was also shuttered and staff have been working out of their homes since early July.

When the deal between SaltWire Network and Transcontinenal was announced in April 2017, Lever said he saw it as an opportunity.

"There's not a plan to shut down," he said at the time.

"This is a growth story, I can't stress it enough."

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