Alex Norris has a great idea. During a panel discussion on the future of newspapers, namely The Gazette – currently bankrupt and for sale – the former journalist turned Mile End councillor called on wealthy citizens of Quebec to pool their resources and buy the damn thing. Rescue our community newspaper from the clutches of remote money-makers who have run it into the ground.
There was considerable amount of excitement in the pool when Norris issued his challenge, not to mention money – the pool being the Bain St-Michel where Infinitheatre is currently staging The Daily Miracle, a new play about the dying days of a Montreal newspaper which strongly resembles the one we still have (at least for now). The event was a $100-a-ticket fundraiser for the theatre. Paying patrons had to work for their free wine and snacks served later in the locker room. Following a performance of the play, a panel of journalists, including Gazette managing editor Ray Brassard, took over the newsroom/stage to discuss the future of print newspapers.
A predictable number of audience members declared they no longer look at the publication. Others had suggestions on how to improve it. Devote two pages to letters-to-the-editor, said Infini board member Michael Shafter, whose day job is running Shafter Bros. steam heat business on Van Horne (which may explain why he likes the idea of blowing off over his morning coffee).
It was that kind of event, a reminder (as is the play) that not only do “words matter” but so does The Gazette. Which is why we should all channel our anger and frustration over the mess it’s in (let’s forget for a moment the mess it has created) and seriously address The Norris Plan.
Where would the money come from? Consider this: if each of the 160,000 people who buy the Gaz every day invested $100 in shares, their investment would provide $16-million equity. A pittance of the cost, but an IPO would be a good way to ensure customer and community loyalty.
Setting aside what acquiring the cripple might cost, let’s look at potential revenue. My inside sources have estimated Montreal’s only English-language newspaper could easily make $10-million a year while still being able to afford both a quality staff and a long-term survival strategy. Apparently buyers currently looking at it say they would have to make at least $50-million to make ownership worthwhile, meaning a takeover might well have no significant difference in quality, or longevity.
A glance at my morning edition (February 5) suggests somebody somewhere must be making money:
44 pages of grey, blurry newsprint, approximately 35% ads
68 pages of flashy, glossy four-colour ads, no editorial copy
24-page supplement about the Olympics, grey and blurry, mainly ads
These are but the most cursory observations, designed to tempt prospective buyers. Seriously, Alex Norris has the right idea. Mr. Brassard said the web will save the print edition. At least he expressed hope, though he didn’t seem to feel it in his bones.
Inspiration is to be found in the story of Fleury Mesplet and how he came to found The Gazette, how he went to jail for his ideas, and adapted to the times. La Gazette/The Gazette for and by Quebecers? Stranger things have happened.
Post your comments below, and if you agree with The Norris Plan, write to our freshly elected man at city hall while he’s still enthusiastic about change: alex.norris@ville.montreal.qc.ca.
P.S. Curious as to how much I’m paying for all this sylvan devastation, I phoned The Gazette circulation department at 3:26 p.m. Friday. My call was “monitored for quality assurance” but the office was closed. So was the advertising department, although the voice-activated attendant seemed mystified by the sound of my voice: “I’m not sure I understand what you said.”
Noses to the grindstone, eh? This too could change.
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This is a great idea. It’s about time we recognized that “unprofitable” businesses are often simply not profitable enough for the gargantuan appetites of their multinational owners. They could make enough to operate while supporting their staffs and providing services to their communities. It is immoral to lay the burden of generating fortunes for distant, faceless and uncaring owners or shareholders on a business that is actually a group of people whose livelihoods are thereby put at risk.
On the other hand, The Gazette doesn’t need any more space for letters to the editor. Half of them are written by the same four people as it is.
Sounds like a great new Ponzi scheme, Marianne.
What will make the “new” Gazette any different from the “old” Gazette, I have to ask? Who will run the “new, resurrected” Gazette? The same employees and die-hard freelancers who are organizing the “Save the Gazette” campaign? Who will pay? The big investors, I would guess, wealthy Quebecers such as … well… um … the Bronfmans, Molsons, Websters. The same corporate families that support McGill, Concordia, our social services, while enjoying close ties with pharmaceutical companies like Merck… the people who bring us all those nice vaccinations, anti-depressants, and the classified bio-chemical warfare projects that have turned McGill campus into a toxic waste dump, and make Quebec such a wonderful place to invest. due to the abundance of financially desperate human guinea pigs … who depend on the Gazette for information
How will a new Gazette change any of this, pray tell?
My advice to you all: walk away from the Gazette, with its hallowed roots in “enlightened” secret societies (let’s name it: Freemasonry) and its ties to some of the most backward and reactionary groups on the planet. Refresh your mind, do your own research, study the past, think critically, and start dreaming about a future created by citizen journalists of every persuasion — and join the thousands of Monteralers who experiences a surge of happiness and became much better informed when they stopped reading it.
I know I’m annoying. So is the truth.
There was actually a great symposium at Colombia University on the ownership of newspapers that I read about in Le Devoir. It suggested that governments give money to community groups so that they can run newspapers as non-profits.
It is interesting, the model proposed by Norris because Le Devoir has the Friends of Le Devoir, which has managed to create investments for Le Devoir, and that has been one of the ways that it has maintained its independence. That and investment from the FTQ Fonds de la solidarité and other such investments.
And I disagree with Ann Diamond on the fact that the new Gazette wouldn’t be a change. There is a lot of unused potential at the Gazette just waiting to unleash itself. And I do believe that having a decent quality newspaper in English (or even several) is essential to a healthy democracy.
Numerous buyouts like this have been tried in the past–including some by employees, but the “laws of the marketplace” have stifled them or made them worse than their earlier incarnations. The kind of English readership left in Montreal is certainly not more discerning than when The Montreal Star went under years ago, and The (inferior) Gazette survived, to decline still further. It would be hard to do a worse job than the kind of remote-control execized from Winnipeg by the Aspers, but I don’t see a buyout reversing the already moribund state of print journalism, whether in quality or profitability. The solution might be a strictly online alternative of the kind taken up by the locked-out Journal de Montreal journalists in La Rue Frontenac. There may be a market for English-language journalism to support something on that scale.
A key fact needs underlining here: The Gazette is, at present, a highly profitable business (as Ray Brassard confirmed during the panel discussion). We are not talking about an act of charity here; buying The Gazette could be a very good business proposition for someone with the foresight and resources to make such a purchase. Keep in mind that general bearishness concerning the future of newspapers will have already been factored into the price it sells for. Also helping suppress the price is the fact that the paper’s current owners are in bankruptcy protection. Bottom line: this highly profitable business could be acquired on the cheap! What we need are for Montrealers who love our city, don’t have a political axe to grind and believe Montreal deserves a quality English-language daily to step up to the plate and make an offer!
As for Ann Diamond’s objections, whatever criticisms one may have of the Gazette, it undeniably plays a significant role in contributing to our democratic culture. In the area of municipal politics, for example, Linda Gyulai’s reporting and Henry Aubin’s incisive commentary both played a role in uncovering and publicizing the water-meter and SHDM scandals. The more papers there are to serve the public, the easier it is to uncover wrongdoing, fight corruption and defend the public interest. We need more, not fewer, newspapers! As for the purported influence of Freemasons there, I must confess that in 16 years working at the paper, I failed to detect it.
Calling this The Norris Plan is a bit of a stretch, but I am willing to take up Marianne’s challenge and do what I can to help find an enlightened buyer for the paper. So please help spread the word!
I agree that a community based, on-line newspaper would be the best alternative. If there is unleashed potential at the Gazette waiting to unleash itself (shudder), think how much more there is in the whole of Montreal. Think of what a real newspaper could be — if allowed to exist and flourish without the shadowy people upstairs who take their orders from God-knows-where.
Alexander, I have been around longer than you. I first heard about Gazette/Southam editors drastically rewriting reporters’ stories back in 1969. I saw Southam rewrite international news from wire services when I was a proofreader at the Hamilton Spectator. The Gazette is now housed under high security in a bulding that looks like Egyptian temple — draw your own conclusions. I think it’s hilarious that the last time I used the library, I had to pay $25 and pass through security clearance to look at a few old files. Or that when I freelanced for the Gazette I was asked to join a secret cabal of journalists closely tied to management. This is no way to make a newspaper responsible to its readers. I could list a number of crucial news stories affecting Montrealers’ lives much more deeply than water meters that the Gazette has failed to cover, or relegated to back pages, while snowstorms and Karla Homolka made headlines.
Before jumping on a last-minute “Save the Gazette” bandwagon — didn’t we all see this coming years ago? — let’s be honest about how the paper has let this community down, over and over. Let’s also bend our minds to whose interests have been served by its agenda of divide and rule, Before investing in the future of this profitable advertising sheet, why not investigate its real performance over the years, its interlocking directorships, corporate backers, and links to local old boys’ clubs. Take a historical look at US and British intelligence objectives in Quebec dating back to the Duplessis years, and how Anglo Montreal has been used as a bulwark against progressive movements. Especially look at the intertwining of medical/military research projects which were NOT in the best interests of Quebecers (major undersatement) — eg how the Gazette enthusiastically promoted the CIA-inspired experiments of certain McGill researchers. and later helped cover up their true purpose and extent. Should we pretend these things won”t happen here again?
The internet is a far better place to get informed about the hidden history of Montreal and the rest of Canada. I suggest we widen our horizons before we come to the rescue a newspaper that never was one.
I agree! Anglophone Quebeckers, as a minority linguistic group, deserve a newspaper that is based in the community and that represents their interests (versus, say, corporate interests). Given the paper’s historical value and the anglophone community’s need for a more grass-roots paper, it does indeed make sense that local anglophones buy it. Who knows, maybe an argument could be made to Ottawa to help us fund the purchase under minority language funding.
I agree with Ann Diamond. Regardles of how one may bang on about Fleury Mesplet (who published in French–more along the lines of Le Devoir), We are kidding ourselves if we try to glory in the past of The Gazette. Most of what was good about it was inherited from the wreckage of The Montreal Star at different times…then promptly wasted. The fact is, an “institution” like that will simply continue to decline. This was bound to happen anyway. (“Suburban” here we come!) The few good journalists left could do a fine job on something more modest along the lines of Le Devoir, but I don’t think English Montreal–The Gazette’s perverse marketing policies have shut it out of the rest of anglophone Quebec forever–can supply the readership necessary to something like that.
The online solution and perhaps a Saturday “best of the week” hard copy (including a handful of the best journalists they haven’t already lost) is the answer,
By the way, the title of your article is beneath what we’ve come to expect. It’s exactly the kind of thing that leads one to fear the further “Suburbanization” of a commercial follow-up to The Gazette.
The re-organization and sale of Canwest assets is an interesting opportunity for the Montreal anglophone community. But for a community or private model? The financial failure of local radio and TV outlets is a subtle warning that out-of-town ownership is a huge risk for any prospective buyer of the Gazette. That’s the good news for local ownership. On the other hand, after years organizing and working in community, non-profit media like Radio Centreville, the Mirror (co-founder), CAM Internet (VP), etc., I remain skeptical that “community” models can replace traditional private media companies. And there is no evidence that local control will guarantee quality – as the Plateau’s elected school commissioner, my mind often boggles at what is tolerated in the management of $1 billion in taxpayers’ funds dedicated to local English public school education – which fails to properly educate kids in French and produces graduation rates of only 65%, one of the lowest in North America! As for private ownership, a cautionary tale comes to us via Newsday of Long Island, where local ownership recently arrived in the form of father-and-son team Chuck & Jimmy Dolan, who control Cablevision, the local equivalent of Videotron. “We are committed to maintaining Newsday’s journalistic integrity and important position in the marketplace,” he announced.” But staff members were not so sure: “They’re The Only Owners Who Could Make You Wish For Murdoch”
http://www.observer.com/2008/season-hellville-dolans-march-please-no-press
My new blog:
http://schoolbard.wordpress.com/
Well! quite a storm over the Norris Plan!! Today;’s Globe says the 35 Can West newspapers are to be sold as a lot, no hiving off individual papers. So only a consortium would likely be able to afford the chain. No need to fear reckless idealism, dear readers.
While not backing down on either column, I should probably nuance the challenge set out, if somewhat tongue in cheek. Do I believe a billionaire will step forward and try to create a great paper? Do I believe anglo Montrealers would get behind the project? Highly unlikely. But I find that with age, one is tempted by bitterness. The diminished vigour of our community newspaper is a tragedy for this city, especially for the anglo community, and the young writers who might have begun careers there if not for consistently shrinking budgets. Writers who might have shown us quite a different view of this city. While the Gazette is actually up for sale, there is at least the THEORETICAL possibility of change, which has not been there for some years. Can we not dream?
It’s so much easier to grumble, but you’ll wear it on your faces. Not pretty.
Well! quite a storm over the Norris Plan!! Today’s Globe says the 35 Can West newspapers are to be sold as a lot, no hiving off individual papers. Only a consortium would likely be able to afford the chain. No need to fear reckless idealism, dear readers.
While not backing down on either column, I should probably nuance the challenge set out, if somewhat tongue in cheek. Do I believe a billionaire will step forward and try to create a great paper? Do I believe anglo Montrealers would get behind the project? Highly unlikely. But I find that with age, one is tempted by bitterness. The diminished vigour of our community newspaper is a tragedy for this city, especially for the anglo community, and the young writers who might have begun careers there if not for consistently shrinking budgets. Writers who might have shown us quite a different view of this city. While the Gazette is actually up for sale, there is at least the THEORETICAL possibility of change, which has not been there for many years.
May we not dream?
It’s so much easier to grumble, but you’ll wear it on your faces. Not pretty at all.
Instead of trying to reanimate the rotting corpse of the Gazette, it seems to me that a better (and a far cheaper and less complicatd) project for quality journalism supporters in Montreal would be to take inspiration from Fleury Mesplet and start your own newspaper. You’re not likely to go to jail and you might have some fun. But why bother with all that obsolete, messy and costly print production and circulation? Why not just expand the Rover. You already have the arts & culture section, all you need is a name (Montreal Star?) plus timely news coverage and ads.
I don’t think we’re grumbling, Marianne. We’re just screaming our opposition to a plan that can only lead to more of the same. And that’s healthy and rejuvenating.
Here”s an online paper that seems to agree with us:
http://www.trudeausociety.com/home/Editorial/2008/03/17/01016.html
I find Marianne has given the first round of realsitic,common sense (possible)solutions,While the negative responses from Anne D.,whom I adore as a person,and Nigel Spencer,are dissapointing. Fatalism and pessimism are tthe inevitable steps towards complicity with exploitation and evil.
Both Infini and Rover have started an argument with (possible )positive results for both newspapers and the caring public. BRAVO
Coralie — while I adore you as a person, I disagree that Nigel and I are fatalistic and pessimistic. Marianne always offers practical suggestions, and usually they involve forming some kind of club, pooling resources etc. Great idea. But why does the Gazette deserve our resources, when in s many ways over the decades it has helped to isolate and undermine Montreal and Quebec, economically, politically and socially? The abuses over the years run very deep. If you had experienced the treatment some freelancers received from Gazette management, you might also have trouble “forgiving’ and getting behind a rescue effort.
Meanwhile, I hear it’s likely a consortium will buy it out fairly soon.
I’m all for an alternative paper that would really represent Montreal. But why does it have to emanate from those awful offices downtown?
“GIVE US A VOICE”
I was fortunate to attend a panel discussion at Infinitheatre with David Sherman’s play “The Daily Miracle” providing great “food for thought”.
Henry Aubin and Raymond Brassard of The Gazette, Josée Boileau of Le Devoir and Francoise Guénette of Radio Canada gave credible response to 2 questions: Will newspapers go more “online than on paper”?; How can newspapers increase readership thereby providing more for those who “write or spin the news” and those activists who wish to do so?
My simplistic off the wall comment was “I would rather spill my morning coffee on The Gazette than on my laptop. I see the need to give the “opinionated” like Henry Aubin the whole page and give us activists their own page as well; possibly, their own “chutzpah” section.
A paper cannot survive by appealing only to their linguistic background. It must give a voice to the 10’s of thousands of activists who whether “Anglo, Franco or Allo” will gravitate to where they can be heard. They too, wish to have a say in making our city, province, country and the world better and “more profitable”. This is precisely the success formula structured by the Suburban whose editor, “Beryl” and all the editorialists for whom he provides mentorship follow each week. They have become “in your face appropriate activists” and at the same time raised the “bar” and size of readership in short time.
Locally, Mr. Aubin, we are still waiting for fulfillment of a promise made by Mayor Tremblay on the CJAD radio “Tommy Show” to give “all mumbling owners of our city a major say in the running of our city”. Possibly a 4 hour discussion period in the grand reception area at City Hall once a month with all executive committee members meeting with them “tête a tête”?
Yum! Yum! Can’t you just “taste it” and dream of the possibilities? Which other media would wish to be second in providing the voice to do it well for itself, their audience and all the people for a better Montreal?