P.E.I.'s Guardian, Journal Pioneer expected to publish as usual as Postmedia sale finalized

Staff at The Guardian and Journal Pioneersay they have been assured the newspapers will continue to publish as usualunder their new owner.

The Guardian, based in Charlottetown, currently publishes Tuesday through Friday, with a weekend edition on Saturdays.The Summerside-based Journal Pioneer operates as a weekly print publication.

Postmedia reported Monday it had successfully closed the $1-million deal to acquire the P.E.I. newspapers, as well as several others in the Atlantic region, from SaltWire.

SaltWire, which also owned The Halifax Herald Ltd. and The Telegram in St. John's, N.L., had been under court protection since March, when its largest creditor forced the company into insolvency.

Last week, The Telegram announced it would print the paper only once a week instead of daily, but would provide continuous news coverage on its website.

Stu Neatby, a reporter at The Guardian, said Postmedia signaled its commitment to local news in P.E.I. by offering long-term positions to almost all the editorial staff.

However, Neatby said he is concerned for the future of staff in other departments, such as circulation, advertising, customer service, financeand production.

"Those people are as equally important as editorial staff to making sure a local paper or news outlet stays in operation," Neatby said. "It's not clear what will happen to their positions long term."

CBCNews contacted Postmedia seeking further information on the company's plans for its new acquisitions, but there was no response in time for publication.