The Telegram
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| Type | Weekly newspaper(formerly daily) |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Postmedia Network |
| Editor | Steve Bartlett (last editor of the daily newspaper) |
| Founded | 1879, asThe Evening Telegram |
| Political alignment | Centre |
| Headquarters | 36 Austin Street St. John's,Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3T7 |
| Circulation | 24,311 weekdays 37,975 Saturdays (as of 2010)[1] |
| ISSN | 1487-6019 |
| Website | thetelegram |
The Telegramis aweekly newspaper(formerly daily) published Fridays inSt. John's,Newfoundland and Labrador,Canada, though now printed outside the province.
History
[edit]The Evening Telegramwas first published on April 3, 1879, byWilliam James Herder.It adopted its current name in 1998, although it was also briefly published under this name in 1881. Herder and his descendants owned and publishedThe Evening Telegramuntil it was sold to Thomson Newspapers (laterThomson Corporation) in 1970, and continued as publishers until the departure of Stephen R. Herder (William's grandson) in 1991.
William Herder began as a printer for the St. John's weeklyThe Courier.When it folded in 1878, Herder purchased one of the presses and began his own newspaper.[2]The Telegramwas notable as the first daily (excluding Sundays) in Newfoundland. It is also the only 19th century Newfoundland newspaper to survive into the 20th (and now 21st) century. Over the course of its history, the paper has published news, stories and editorials of interest to readers in the dominion, and later province, of Newfoundland, and St. John's in particular. Coverage of the St. John'sGreat Fire of 1892was hampered as theEvening Telegramhead office on Duckworth Street was completely destroyed in the fire. Despite heavy losses, Herder rebuilt and was published from a temporary location on Water Street less than two months later.
In May 1996, Thomson sold to the paper toHollinger Inc.as one of several transactions between the companies in the mid-1990s.[3]In 2000, the paper was included in the newspaper assets that Hollinger sold toCanwest.[4]Less than two years later, Canwest sold its newspapers in Atlantic Canada to printing companyTranscontinental.[5]
On April 13, 2017, Transcontinental announced that it had sold all of its newspapers in Atlantic Canada toSaltWire Network,a newly formed parent company ofThe Chronicle Herald.[6][7][8]
In April 2021, it was announced by SaltWire thatThe Telegram's standalone website would merge into SaltWire.com effective April 20.[9]
In March 2024,Fiera Private Debtfiled for receivership against SaltWire, claiming they are owed over $32 million.[10]On July 26, 2024,Postmediaentered an agreement to purchase selected assets of SaltWire.[11]The sale, which closed August 24, includesThe Telegrambut not itsprinting press.[12][13]
On August 21, 2024, the paper confirmed that its final daily print edition would be published on Saturday, August 24, with weekly editions to be published on Fridays starting August 30.[14]Following the ownership transfer, it was confirmed that the weekly paper would be printed outside the province and shipped in.[15]Other daily newspapers that were part of the transaction but are closer to the production facility, includingThe Guardianin Charlottetown, continued to publish at least five days a week following the sale.[16]
Politics
[edit]In the 19th century,The Evening Telegramwas known for its strong opinions on issues of the day, including theNewfoundland Railway,and earlyConfederationdiscussions. However, its editorial policy remained neutral during the heated Confederation debates of 1948/49. The same could not be said of formerEvening TelegramreporterJoey Smallwood,who worked for the paper from 1919 to 1922 (including a short stint as editor in 1923). After his association withThe Evening Telegram,Smallwood went on to found the pro-Confederation newspaperThe Confederate,lead Newfoundland intoconfederation with Canada,and become the first premier of the new Province ofNewfoundland.As Premier, Smallwood had a rocky relationship withThe Telegram,bringing a series of libel suits against it and threatening to withdraw all government advertising.
The paper has not explicitly endorsed candidates during recent general elections. It does not shy away from political criticism, however, and in the late 2000s, under Transcontinental ownership, the paper had been quite critical at various times of both the federalConservativesunderStephen Harper,[17]and to a lesser extent the provincialProgressive ConservativesunderDanny Williams.[18]However, during the same period, it did not express any particular confidence in opposing parties such as the Liberals.[19]
Community ties and current status
[edit]Well-known formerTelegramjournalists include Newfoundland writersHarold Horwood,Ray Guy,[2]andAlbert Perlin.Other notable contributors toThe Telegraminclude former editor and authorMichael Harrington,artistRae Perlin,former Newfoundland Prime MinisterWilliam F. Lloydand former provincial NDP leaderPeter Fenwick.The Telegramis the original publication venue of the monthlychurch historycolumn by DrHans Rollmann.[20]
The Telegramhas sponsored theTely 10 Mile Road Raceannually since 1927, and the provincial men's senior hockey trophy, theHerder Cup,is named for William Herder.[2]
The Telegramis Newfoundland and Labrador's largest newspaper, and published seven days a week from 1989 to 2008, when it reverted to a single weekend paper published on Saturday asThe Weekend Telegram.Its tagline is "The People's Paper", accompanied by theprovincial flag.The title is printed inOld English Textfont.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Canadian Circulations Audit BoardCirculation Reportfor January to December 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2012.(registration required)
- ^abcPorter, Stephanie. "Basically, He's Still Around - William J. Herder Founded The Evening Telegram and Started a Dynasty".The Newfoundland and Labrador Independent,September 4–10, 2005: 1-2
- ^Fitzgerald, Mark (May 11, 1996)."Thomson pares down further".Editor & Publisher.RetrievedAugust 21,2024– via TheFreeLibrary.
- ^"CanWest acquires Hollinger newspapers".UPI.July 31, 2000.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^"Under new management: the headline for some newspapers".CBCNews.ca.July 10, 2002.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^"Chronicle Herald buys all Atlantic Canadian Transcontinental papers".CBC News.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^"Transcontinental sells The Guardian, Journal Pioneer".CBC News.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^"The Chronicle Herald acquires Transcontinental Inc.'s newspapers, news websites and four printing plants in Atlantic Canada".The Chronicle Herald.Retrieved13 April2017.
- ^"EDITORIAL: SaltWire's got a brand new website".SaltWire Network.April 20, 2021.
- ^Bousquet, Tim (2024-03-11)."BREAKING: private equity firm puts SaltWire in receivership".Halifax Examiner.Retrieved2024-03-11.
- ^"Postmedia enters agreement to buy SaltWire chain of newspapers".CBC News.July 26, 2024.
- ^"Postmedia sending 'radio silence' about future of St. John's Telegram, says union head and journalist".CBC News.Aug 13, 2024.
- ^"Stop the presses: Telegram printing staff brace for closure of N.L.'s last press".CBC News.August 17, 2024.
- ^"Note to Telegram readers".SaltWire.com.August 21, 2024.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^Whitten, Elizabeth (September 3, 2024)."Expect less N.L. content in the Telegram under new Postmedia owner, says journalism prof".CBC News.RetrievedSeptember 4,2024.
- ^Ross, Shane (August 26, 2024)."P.E.I.'s Guardian, Journal Pioneer expected to publish as usual as Postmedia sale finalized".CBC News PEI.RetrievedSeptember 6,2024.
- ^For example:Mr. Harper, the facts do matter,April 14, 2007, andClosing the barn door,October 10, 2008
- ^For example:Burke's blunder,July 31, 2008
- ^For example:Don't bank on Dion's promise,April 24, 2007
- ^"SaltWire | Newfoundland & Labrador".
- The Telegram: History
- Memorial University Historical Directory of Newfoundland and Labrador Newspapers
- Porter, Stephanie. "Basically, he's still around - William J. Herder founded The Evening Telegram and Started a Dynasty." The Newfoundland and Labrador Independent September 4–10, 2005: 1-2
