The Daily News (Halifax)
Encyclopedia
The Daily News was a tabloid newspaper
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
that was published from 1974 until ceasing operations in February 2008.
, who, along with his wife Diana and Patrick and Joyce Sims, founded The Great Eastern News Company Ltd. in 1974 and started publishing a weekly broadsheet named The Bedford-Sackville News. This paper focused on the suburban communities of Bedford
and Lower Sackville
within the Halifax-Dartmouth metropolitan area.
The Great Eastern News Company Ltd. was initially published out of Bentley's home but a press was acquired in 1978 and the company moved into a new building. A year later the format changed to a tabloid and began publishing six days a week as The Bedford-Sackville Daily News. The paper gained a reputation for printing stories not covered by its competition, The Chronicle-Herald
, some of which were considered sensational. In 1981, Bentley's company moved to downtown Halifax from its suburban base and redubbed its tabloid as The Daily News, while gaining a reputation for hard-hitting stories and expanded sports coverage.
In 1985 the Newfoundland Capital Corporation gained a controlling interest in the paper and complete ownership in 1987 which resulted in a move to Dartmouth. The paper was subsequently redesigned and a press upgrade made it one of the first papers in Atlantic Canada
to incorporate colour; on October 2, 1988 it became the first paper in the region to publish a Sunday edition. Under NCC ownership, the tendency for sensational coverage was tempered as the paper became more mainstream.
On July 1, 1997 NCC sold the paper to Southam Newspapers, which was controlled by Conrad Black
's Hollinger Corporation. On November 15, 2000, Hollinger sold The Daily News, along with the majority of its major Southam papers to CanWest Global Communications in what was termed the biggest media deal in Canadian history.
Over several years, CanWest Global attempted to use The Daily News to bolster its news team at its Global Maritimes
TV station, however this ended on August 9, 2002 when the paper was sold to GTC Transcontinental Inc., along with other former Southam properties in eastern and western Canada.
GTC Transcontinental redesigned the paper in 2003, maintaining the tabloid format and relocated it from Dartmouth to downtown Halifax.
The Daily News was replaced with a local version of the free Metro
newspaper aimed primarily at commuters.
92 staff members from the newsroom, circulation department, and printing plant were given severance packages based upon 2 weeks salary per year of employment with the newspaper. 20 staff members have been hired back to work on the Halifax edition of Metro while other staff may be placed with GTC Transcontinental newspapers elsewhere in Atlantic Canada
.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
that was published from 1974 until ceasing operations in February 2008.
History
The Daily News owed its existence to David BentleyDavid Bentley (Canadian businessman)
David Bentley is a Canadian businessman from Halifax, Nova Scotia who has been involved in print media since the 1970s.Born in England, Bentley emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1966-The Daily News:...
, who, along with his wife Diana and Patrick and Joyce Sims, founded The Great Eastern News Company Ltd. in 1974 and started publishing a weekly broadsheet named The Bedford-Sackville News. This paper focused on the suburban communities of Bedford
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Bedford is a community in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was an independent town from 1980-1996. Bedford lies on the northwestern end of Bedford Basin, an extension of the Halifax Harbour...
and Lower Sackville
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Lower Sackville is a suburban community located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is part of the urban area of Halifax ....
within the Halifax-Dartmouth metropolitan area.
The Great Eastern News Company Ltd. was initially published out of Bentley's home but a press was acquired in 1978 and the company moved into a new building. A year later the format changed to a tabloid and began publishing six days a week as The Bedford-Sackville Daily News. The paper gained a reputation for printing stories not covered by its competition, The Chronicle-Herald
Halifax Chronicle-Herald
The Chronicle Herald is a broadsheet published in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The largest newspaper company in Nova Scotia, The Chronicle Herald is also the highest circulation newspaper in the Atlantic provinces and is currently the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada...
, some of which were considered sensational. In 1981, Bentley's company moved to downtown Halifax from its suburban base and redubbed its tabloid as The Daily News, while gaining a reputation for hard-hitting stories and expanded sports coverage.
In 1985 the Newfoundland Capital Corporation gained a controlling interest in the paper and complete ownership in 1987 which resulted in a move to Dartmouth. The paper was subsequently redesigned and a press upgrade made it one of the first papers in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
to incorporate colour; on October 2, 1988 it became the first paper in the region to publish a Sunday edition. Under NCC ownership, the tendency for sensational coverage was tempered as the paper became more mainstream.
On July 1, 1997 NCC sold the paper to Southam Newspapers, which was controlled by Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
's Hollinger Corporation. On November 15, 2000, Hollinger sold The Daily News, along with the majority of its major Southam papers to CanWest Global Communications in what was termed the biggest media deal in Canadian history.
Over several years, CanWest Global attempted to use The Daily News to bolster its news team at its Global Maritimes
CIHF-TV
CIHF-DT, channel 8, is a television station in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Owned by Shaw Media, it serves the Maritime provinces as an owned-and-operated station of the Global Television Network...
TV station, however this ended on August 9, 2002 when the paper was sold to GTC Transcontinental Inc., along with other former Southam properties in eastern and western Canada.
GTC Transcontinental redesigned the paper in 2003, maintaining the tabloid format and relocated it from Dartmouth to downtown Halifax.
Closure
On February 11, 2008 GTC Transcontinental executives made a surprise announcement to staff and readers that The Daily News would cease publication effective immediately, citing declining advertising revenue and circulation subscriptions.The Daily News was replaced with a local version of the free Metro
Metro International
Metro International is a Swedish media company based in Luxembourg that publishes the Metro newspapers. Metro International's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 41% since launch of the first newspaper edition in 1995. It is a freesheet, meaning that distribution is...
newspaper aimed primarily at commuters.
92 staff members from the newsroom, circulation department, and printing plant were given severance packages based upon 2 weeks salary per year of employment with the newspaper. 20 staff members have been hired back to work on the Halifax edition of Metro while other staff may be placed with GTC Transcontinental newspapers elsewhere in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
.
Additional information
- The Daily News is credited with being the first Canadian newspaper (and one of the first in the world) to have an online edition. Tom Regan established the website in 1993 before moving on to work at the Christian Science Monitor and currently at National Public Radio.
- The Daily News published the work of acclaimed political cartoonist Michael deAdderMichael deAdderMichael de Adder is a Canadian editorial cartoonist who worked for the Halifax Daily News until it closed its doors in February 2008.Born in Moncton, he attended Mount Allison University and completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1991...
. - The paper had a pullout Weekend HFX section.
- The connection to Bedford-Sackville was maintained with a weekly insert dedicated to the suburban area in which it was founded.
- The paper offered an internet edition using ZinioZinioZinio is a publishing technology and services company, which provides sales and distribution of printed material in digital format including magazines, books, catalogs, newsletters and research...
which allowed readers to view the actual hardcopy layout online.
External links
- The Death of The Daily News, Comprehensive coverage of the Daily News shutdown by the King's Journalism Review.