Media Advisory - CWA Canada urges Postmedia to invest in quality, not slash jobs

Media Advisory - CWA Canada urges Postmedia to invest in quality, not slash jobs


OTTAWA, May 28, 2012 /CNW/ - CWA Canada is urging Postmedia to follow
the example of legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett and invest
in quality journalism rather than slash yet more jobs.



Postmedia revealed today that it is cutting dozens of editorial jobs at
some of its newspapers as part of broader plan to improve its financial
outlook. The company continues to struggle with declining print
advertising revenue and a heavy debt load.



CWA Canada, the union that represents journalists at Postmedia
newspapers the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette and Regina Leader Post,
maintains that cutting jobs is the wrong strategy and will only make
things worse in the long run.



"We understand that Postmedia is facing financial challenges, but we
believe the company can only turn things around by investing in its
product rather than by cutting jobs," CWA Canada Director Martin
O'Hanlon said. "If we've learned anything over the last few years, it's
that cutting jobs only hurts quality, and that does nothing to attract
readers or generate revenue." O'Hanlon said Postmedia should borrow a
page from Buffett who is busy buying newspapers and committing to
quality journalism.



O'Hanlon also emphasized that the cuts carry a big personal and
community toll. Dozens of fine journalists will soon be out of work,
hurting them, their families and the communities in which they live and
contribute.



CWA Canada is the country's only media-specific union, representing
nearly 7,000 workers at companies such as the CBC, The Canadian Press,
Reuters, and newspapers coast to coast.



SOURCE CWA-SCA CANADA

CWA-SCA CANADA

CONTACT: Martin O'Hanlon
Director, CWA Canada
(613) 820-8460
mohanlon@cwa-scacanada.ca


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