Sudden demise of local papers puts city in legal bind

The dissolution of nearly a dozen local newspapers hasleft the City of Ottawa in a tricky legal situation.

The city is legally required to let residents know about public consultations in their area. Typically, that means taking out an ad in the community newspaper servingthe neighbourhoodthat'smost affected, such as the Orlans News or the Kanata Kourier-Standard.

Community newspapers are critical for reaching the neighbourhoods.- Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, City of Ottawa

But with severallocal papers set to print their final issues in January, the city now has to scramble to find a new way to meet that legalrequirement.

The city routinely takes out advertisements to let people know about public consultations, local events, environmental assessments and changes to heritage properties.

"Community newspapers are critical for reaching the neighbourhoods, the communities," said Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, the director of public information for the city.

Important platform

The sudden news that Postmediahad acquired and will shutter so many local newspapers took Lanthier-Seymourby surprise.

She said the newspapers were particularlyuseful in Ottawa because the city is so large and diversewith distinct rural, suburban and urban communities.

"The community outlets were a way where people could really read about what's happening right in their neighbourhoods," said Lanthier-Seymour.

Postmediaplans to shut down thefollowing Ottawa newspapers:

• Metro Ottawa.
• Kanata Kourier-Standard.
• Nepean/Barrhaven News.
• Orlans News.
• Ottawa East News.
• Ottawa South News.
• Ottawa West News.
• Stittsville News.

The city's communications department will hold a series of meetings over the next couple of weeks to come up with a plan to meet its legal responsibilities afterthose local papers fold.

Lanthier-Seymour pointed out newspapers aren't the only way to communicate with the public.The city also uses socialmedia andother online platforms, as well as bus ads and news releases to inform the public about important city news.

The papers are all expected to shut down by mid-January.