History
Predecessors and establishment
The Cape Breton Post evolved from the earlier independent Sydney Post-Record (1933-1956), [5] owned by John Stewart McLennan, [6] which resulted from a merger of the morning and evening editions of the Liberal paper the Sydney Record (originated as a weekly in 1884) and the Conservative Sydney Daily Post (originated as a weekly in 1896; became a daily paper on March 8, 1901, [7] purchased by Mclennan in 1904). With the amalgamation of these two papers in January 1933 [8] the Post-Record became a politically independent daily, with a circulation increasing from approximately 7,200 to 27,000 by 1951. The Post-Record primarily covered Cape Breton County, with some coverage of the rest of Cape Breton Island and the eastern Nova Scotia mainland. The Post-Record’s name was changed to its current name, The Cape Breton Post, in July 1956 to better reflect the broader scope of its coverage. The very first issue of the Cape Breton Post was published on July 14, 1956.
Canwest, after acquiring Southam in November 2000, which included the Cape Breton Post, examined ways to integrate many of its smaller market papers into its Global television news division; however, it wasn't to be. On August 10, 2002, Canwest sold eight Atlantic Canada and two Saskatchewan daily newspapers, 34 community papers, and two printing plants to Transcontinental Media including the Cape Breton Post, and St. John's The Telegram . [12] The deal allowed Transcontinental to use its newly acquired Summerside, Prince Edward Island plant to print the Atlantic Canada version of the National Post. [13]
Circulation
According to figures via Canadian Newspaper Association, the Cape Breton Post's average weekday circulation for 2015 was 16,972, while on Saturdays it was 16,319. [14] Because of the relatively small population of Cape Breton Island, that meant that over 12% of the population could be receiving the paper and its advertisements. Like most Canadian daily newspapers, the Cape Breton Post has seen a decline in circulation, dropping its total by 25% to 106,473 copies daily from 2008 to 2015. [15]
- Daily average [15]
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Saltwire aquisition
On April 13, 2017, Transcontinental announced that it had sold all of its newspapers in Atlantic Canada to SaltWire Network, a newly formed parent company of The Chronicle Herald . [16] [17] [18]
On 29 November 2018 Saltwire Network announced the closure of its press in Sydney, with the printing of the Cape Breton Post moved to the company’s press in Halifax. [19]
In March 2019, all SaltWire publication websites, including the Cape Breton Post, introduced metered paywalls. [20] At the end of March 2019, the Post's owners, Saltwire, terminated its affiliation with the Canadian Press newswire service, opting instead to become a client of Postmedia and Reuters. [20] In March 2019, SaltWire announced it was putting 10 of its newspaper buildings up for sale, including the headquarters for the Cape Breton Post [21]
Cease print edition of Cape Breton Post on Mondays
On 3 October 2022, SaltWire Network announced they would cease publishing a print version of the Cape Breton Post on Mondays. Alon with the Post, three other Satwire publications were impacted, The Chronicle Herald in Halifax, The Guardian in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and The Telegram in St. Johns. Digital editions will continue on Mondays.
The announcement took effect on 17 October, but as in the past, there was no print publication on Thanksgiving Monday. [22]
Postmedia's takeover
In March 2024, Saltwire declared bankruptcy. [23] Postmedia Network bought the remains of Saltwire in late summer 2024, including the Cape Breton Post. [24] About a month after Postmedia's takeover, major layoffs occurred in management, editorial staff, and writers, including cartoonist Michael de Adder which also resulted in local content being replaced by advertisements. [25]
The Post's most recent headquarters in Sydney was put up for sale in October 2024 as the paper is no longer printed in Sydney, but at the same printing press as the Halifax Chronicle Herald on the mainland. [24] [26] This building, built for the Post in 1985, is located at the corner of Dorchester and George Streets, and is just a short distance from the former brick and concrete Sydney Post-Record building at 75 Dorchester Street, which still stands. [27]
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