By Mat Barrett

News on the news

Local papers to merge, layoffs expected

Feb 1, 2019 | 5:54 PM

Some changes are coming for a newspaper in the northeast.

The Tisdale Recorder, and East Central Trader will soon merge and create the East Central Recorder with the first issue coming on Feb. 7. Publisher Valerie Durnin said it’s a change owners believed needed to happen.

“We’ve been looking at ways to improve our service and also increase our efficiency,” Durnin told northeastNOW. “It’s a necessary step, but we also really believe that it’s going to be a good thing for the region.”

“We’re excited about having a regional product.” _{-Valerie Durnin}

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Durnin said when it comes to content, not much will change except for some wider coverage. The new paper will include content from the Humboldt area.

“For readers of the Recorder, it’s going to look very much the same,” she said.

With minimal content changes, there will be one change when it comes to delivery.

“Melfort, Tisdale, and Nipawin will see their papers arriving exactly the same as they have been,” Durnin said. “Someone living in a small community outside of that will have a drop box to go to.”

A salesperson and a news reporter will remain in Tisdale, but won’t be working out of the office as that will be closed. Durnin said the merger caused some layoffs.

“Like I said, we’re looking for efficiencies,” Durnin said. “So, we have had a couple of staff members that we are going to lose, and we regret that. But, it’s really important that we keep people in the area, so our reporter lives there and she will be keeping her eye on what’s happening in the northeast Saskatchewan area.”

Online, things will remain on the Recorder’s website.