In a heart-breaking announcement to Ottawa Valley readers, Postmedia announced yesterday that after 163 years in business, the Pembroke Daily Observer will stop publishing its print edition, although a weekly tabloid will continue to be delivered and its online website will remain.
The last print edition will be Saturday, July 28.
The Daily Observer was founded in 1855 and presently employs a staff of 11. Two full-time reporters, and two full-time workers in advertising are being laid off.
It's all part of Postmedia's plan to close more local newspapers and cut staff costs by 10 per cent.
The Northern News in Kirkland Lake will suffer a similar fate as the Pembroke paper.
Six papers will be shut down.
In Ontario, the Kapuskasing Northern Times, the Ingersoll Times, the Norwich Gazette and The Petrolia Topic will all stop publishing along with two in Alberta.
“Now, another historic Canadian newspaper will die, and proud Pembroke will face the threat of becoming a local news desert,” Paul Morse, president of the union representing some Daily Observer employees, said in a statement.
