The “Fresh Four” Founding Journalists (Theresa McManus, Mario Bartel, Cornelia Naylor and Janice Cleugh) of the new cooperative along with UCI Managing Director Jonny Sopotiuk
Local News & A Healthy Democracy
I was devastated to learn about the closure of the Burnaby NOW this spring. Call me old school, but I miss waking up with a cup of coffee and reading my weekly paper.
I feel more disconnected from the community and what’s happening in our neighbourhood now. I’m struggling to find out about our local festivals and events and what’s happening at our city council. And the social media ban on online news isn’t helping.
These are just a few of the reasons why I immediately signed up to support the Save Our Local News campaign. I believe that local independent media is the key to a healthy, engaged, and active society.
This initiative is being led by four community journalists with more than 100 years of experience covering Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities. I’m inspired by Mario Bartel, Janis Cleugh, Theresa McManus and Cornelia Naylor.
They are starting a new community-owned and journalist-run non-profit cooperative to begin publishing our local stories. I’m so excited for a local newspaper coming back to my home community of Burnaby this Fall.
In 2019, a similar initiative was launched in Québec and the community rallied to save six (6) local papers that are still thriving today, but our campaign will only be successful if the community comes together. And I have faith we will.
Please join me in fuelling their campaign by donating to our crowdfunding campaign or signing up as a supporter and volunteer.
In solidarity and cooperation,
Jonny Sopotiuk