As many of you will be aware, Metroland, the owner of a number of Community Newspapers in Ontario, including in Muskoka the Huntsville Forester, the Bracebridge Examiner, and the Gravenhurst Banner, has announced that they will seek bankruptcy protection. Consequently, the three community newspapers in Muskoka will cease to exist as print editions.
Although these newspapers have been in decline for some time, there is nothing to celebrate here. Metroland’s decision is a dark day for much of community journalism in Ontario. More than 600 newspaper people have lost their jobs, without notice and without severance pay. This includes a number of good people in Muskoka. Many communities in Ontario will have lost their local voice.
Since this has happened, we have received a number of inquiries as to how these print media closures in Muskoka will affect Doppler.
In Huntsville, we are fortunate that over the past eight years, Huntsville Doppler, serving North Muskoka and East Parry Sound, has become a household name. We have enjoyed the readership of over 100,000 individuals each month and have become the go-to source for local news, commentary, and community information. We are accessible to both permanent and seasonal residents, year-round on a 24/7 basis.
My pledge to you is that this will not change. In fact, we will do our best to enhance what we offer, to fill any void that may now exist. We will continue to be your local voice.
Huntsville Doppler is here to stay, and our entire dedicated team remains committed to the highest standard of local news and commentary and news from other areas that will be of interest to the communities we serve, no matter what other changes occur as a result of the Metroland closures.
We thank you for your loyalty, your continued presence, and your occasional comments! 😊 It is all appreciated and treasured. We look forward to being here for you, for many years to come.
If you have any questions, email us at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Hugh Mackenzie
Publisher
Michael Lowe says
I am faithful reader of Doppler and this is good to hear. For me news is a critical part of our lives and for Huntsville to have a source like Doppler is important. Thanks Hugh, and the Doppler crew, for keeping this site alive and active during these troubled times in the news world.
Michael Lowe
Robert Graziano says
The good news is that there will be less liter on the streets from people who are too lazy to pick this paper from thier driveways. I counted 12 papers on one driveway after the winter snows melted!
Steven Helwig says
Good morning! My wife and I moved to Huntsville 10 years ago in retirement. During our time here we’ve found the Doppler to be a valuable local news resource. Kudos to all those who are keeping us informed. Regards, Steven and Maggie
Bob Braan says
Realtors will likely take over flyer distribution and make money doing it.
Metroland papers were full of realtor advertising. Often more pages than the news.
Sometimes even on the front page.
A listing would even appear online among news stories. As if it was news.
Brian Tapley says
Does anybody know exactly which issue of the Forester will be the “last” one? Or has Metro land taken a page from District government and the fact is already history as I write this?
The Forester has been an institution for me, for our family going back over a generation and I’d like to get a copy of the last print version.
It might have helped their bottom line if they’d managed somehow to have the “news” be bigger than the real estate ads but I guess this is where the priorities land these days.
Maybe the real estate companies can put a “flier” in their future paper with the local news and sort of reverse the entire situation.
The only big issue really is going to be how one manages to light their fireplace with no newspaper around anymore. Ultimately this was always the final “use” for any paper around here.
I guess I’ll have to use Canada Post junk mail in future for this. At least there is lots of this at the moment still.
Doug Austin says
Yes, its a sad day to see the Forester go the way of the Dodo bird.
I really do appreciate Doppler and its digital competitor.
One request – Can you stop the advertising that flips and flashes quickly on the screen.?
If it moved slowly, that’s fine but the fast movement, its just too hard on the eyes, I have to quickly move away from it and can’t read the article.
Thanks