Toronto Star editor-in-chief Fred Kuntz, in his "I must be going now" message, praises the role of newspapers in keeping cities and societies informed.
Newspapers, exposed to these gusts, face even more challenges brought on by technology. The Internet does not steal readers; in fact, it's a great way to expand our reach online – but it complicates the revenue plan. In the meantime, layoffs have affected media, too.
As former publisher John Honderich told a recent convocation of Ryerson journalism students, the impact of hard times for newspapers goes beyond job cuts. Less reporting means less information for readers, who are citizens and voters, and diminishes the public discourse.
Take heed: original news on the Internet still comes mostly from newspapers' newsrooms, not from independent bloggers, scrapers or search engines – and mostly from major dailies. The Star's editorial staff, powerful at 408, exceeds the reporting strength of any newspaper in Canada or, by far, the combined strength of all the radio stations in this region.
For this reason, I remain an optimist about the prospects for newspapers, this one especially.
While newspapers do need to sort out the business proposition, they still command a mass audience. In the Star's case, that means 2 million readers a week in print, the largest readership in Canada, and many more online.
Readers, like you, are still voraciously hungry for news about the community, the nation, the world. Better yet, they prefer their news from someone whose values they trust. As long as that's the case, the Star's valiant voice will resonate many years into the future.
So last but not least, I thank you for reading and caring.
The CP story from Friday added the following:
Kuntz held a number of editing posts at the Star for 19 years before he went to the Globe and Mail in 2000 as associate editor.
In 2001, he was hired by Torstar Corp., the Star's parent company, as group publisher of Grand Valley Newspapers, which includes the Record in Kitchener-Waterloo and the Guelph Mercury.
In October 2006, Kuntz returned to the Star as editor-in-chief.
During his five years in Waterloo Region, Kuntz volunteered with several local groups including the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, the Salvation Army advisory board and the Rotary Club of Kitchener.
Kuntz said his immediate plans included a "sunny vacation with my family" but added that he was not ready to retire.
Kuntz served 26 months as editor-in-chief.
First out the door was publisher Jagoda Pike in October.
John Cruickshank, publisher of CBC News, will be the Star's publisher in January.
I previously blogged about this turnover in this post.