With local printed newspapers fading into history, the Town of The Blue Mountains is going to review how it conducts its advertising.
At its meeting on Oct. 30, council approved the receipt of a resolution from the Township of McKellar that called on the provincial government to change legislation that requires municipalities to advertise certain aspects of their business in printed newspapers. McKellar is requesting that the province include digital newspapers as acceptable advertising vehicles.
Municipalities are required, by legislation such as the Planning Act, to provide notice via advertising in printed newspapers for events like public planning meetings.
The resolution from McKellar was in response to Metroland media’s recent announcement that its local publications across the province had ceased to publish nearly all of its printed newspapers and were now digital-only products.
Locally, the announcement applied to the Collingwood Connection. But, in recent years, Metroland also shut down and ceased printing The Blue Mountains Courier-Herald and the Meaford Express.
“I thought it would be useful for council to consider this resolution,” said Coun. Paula Hope. “We do have two good vehicles that currently are both digital.”
CAO Shawn Everitt said a staff report about advertising options as they relate to both provincial requirements and town policies would be coming to the council table in the near future. The CAO said it was important to take a look at in-house advertising policies in the wake of the changing print media landscape.
“Our policy is probably less flexible than the actual legislation is,” said Everitt.
The CAO said the report would include options for the future, as well as a review of the existing advertising vehicles that remain.
Council unanimously supported the resolution and sent it to staff to be included as part of the upcoming report.
