File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters / Dylana Kneeshaw

KTW

Kamloops This Week to close; last newspaper coming Oct. 25

Oct 17, 2023 | 11:57 AM

KAMLOOPS — UPDATE (3:35 p.m.): Kamloops This Week (KTW) has confirmed its closure in a piece posted to its website.

The newspaper blames the closure on “myriad challenges, including market conditions and unrelenting rising costs.”

Aberdeen Publishing owner Robert Doull goes on to blame paper costs and the lack of a viable printer, as well as the impact of Meta and Google’s response to Bill C-18, which mandates social media companies compensate news organizations for content.

“The cost half of our equation no longer makes sense and we don’t see any way to solve it,” said Doull in the KTW story.

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CFJC Today has requested commented from Doull but has yet to hear a response.

EARLIER: CFJC Today has learned the last physical newspaper in Kamloops will close later this month.

Advertisers are being told Kamloops This Week’s last publication will come out on October 25.

An email to an advertiser stated the newspaper’s publisher, Aberdeen Publishing, could not come to an agreement with its unionized staff that would result in the newspaper continuing. The outlet’s website will also discontinue operations.

The email blames the closure on “the high cost of doing business” and admits the closure will be a significant blow to the community.

Last month, Kamloops This Week published a story quoting Aberdeen owner Robert Doull saying the paper requested revisitation of its collective agreement with the union representing some of its employees, Unifor Local 2000.

The article bore the headline, ‘Kamloops This Week is NOT closing.’