​Where there is a will…yes, there is a way.

At last count, 516 local newspapers across Canada, including the Saint Croix Courier, have closed their doors since 2008. As the editor of one of those newspapers describes it, the main cause is simply “social media.”

Yet, there are two local bright stars for the free press despite the depressing avalanche of closures across North America.

CHCO, the courageous and tireless community television station in Saint Andrews, has bought the recently closed Saint Croix Courier, which was founded in 1865, 159 years ago. Through virtually its entire publishing life, The Courier was independently owned and operated, including during the era of the dominant Irving media ownership, and then the current Postmedia control in New Brunswick and much of North America.

Meanwhile The Quoddy Tides newspaper has been publishing twice a month since 1968, covering communities “touched by the tides of Passamaquoddy Bay” on both sides of the border between Canada and the United States. Throughout its 56-year life “The Tides” has been published and edited by its founder Winifred French and, since her death in 1995, by her son, Edward French.

CHCO acknowledges that it is new to the newspaper business, but not new to journalism. In a statement to this blog, Vicki Hogarth, CHCO, expresses it this way: 

 "As CHCO-TV, a nonprofit community station based in Charlotte County, acquires The Saint Croix Courier brand, our goal is to honour its rich legacy while embracing the future of journalism.

“While we are not acquiring The Courier's former building or printing company, the addition of The Courier brand to our offerings strengthens our commitment to local news. Over the next few months, we will integrate The Saint Croix Courier into our digital platform, expanding our coverage with local articles alongside our multimedia offerings.
 
“The community has already expressed interest in bringing back the print edition, and we will explore this option if it proves economically feasible. Until then, all news content will be available to readers for free on our website. Our priority remains keeping local news thriving in Charlotte County, ensuring The Courier continues to serve as a vital resource for years to come.

As a former editor of the Saint Croix Courier, I should disclose my bias in saying: “Bravo” to CHCO.

Throughout their history, The Courier, CHCO and The Tides have been guided by tireless dedication to one mantra, Community, Community, Community.

Both news organizations are dedicated to telling “what’s going on” in their communities. CHCO covers the community like a blanket with its reporters, cameras and sound equipment present at virtually every important event in Saint Andrews and surrounding areas.

For its part, The Tides features coverage of both Maine and New Brunswick new stories, timely editorials on local issues from the closure of a local elementary school to the opinions in its letters to the editor column, ranging from pro Donald Trump to pro Kamala Harris. It has also developed a diverse and loyal advertising base.

Despite the healthy commitment to quality local journalism by CHCO, The Courier and The Tides there is a dangerous trend across North America – social media is vacuuming up most of their advertising revenue. As a result, resources for reporting are drying up. Precious little good basic journalism is taking place, where reporters cover the local town council, health, education or social issues, or the small business sector.

Far too many people are getting their so-called “news” from the gossipy, one-sided information of social media and, especially, Meta’s Facebook.

In Atlantic Canada, Postmedia has bought many of the newspapers in the former SaltWire group, including The Halifax Chronicle Herald, The Cape Breton Post and The St. John’s Telegram, which under the new ownership has recently been turned into a weekly, from a daily.

While Andrew MacLeod, the president, and CEO of Postmedia, has said his organization will provide “reliable and high-quality local news,” many small New Brunswick newspapers have faded or closed since Postmedia took over ownership of the Irving group of newspapers.

Locally, Vicki Hogarth is wise to tread carefully about a return to a print edition of The Courier. There may be more revenue available for combined digital and story reporting on a web site as many successful papers such as The Tampa Bay Times in Florida, The Guardian in Great Britain, and The New York Times, have done.
​
Since CHCO’s first cablecast in 1993, the founding of The Saint Croix Courier in 1865 and The Quoddy Tides’ beginnings in 1968, these durable news outlets have shown their determination to do their job and prosper. Their record shows they have the will to succeed.