A former councillor in Prince George has purchased the city91裸聊视频檚 only newspaper after watching multiple outlets in other British Columbia Interior communities shut down last year.

Cameron Stolz is the new owner of the 108-year-old Prince George Citizen after buying the paper from Glacier Media.

Stolz, a businessman who owns a toy and comics store, said he entered talks to buy the weekly newspaper last November after outlets in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek closed, followed soon after by the newspaper in Kamloops.

He said he was worried that the Citizen, which lost about $56,000 last year, would be the next to go.

91裸聊视频淚 do believe firmly that there is a need for local news for communities, I believe that there91裸聊视频檚 a need for people to be aware of what91裸聊视频檚 going on in their community and be able to find a trusted source of information on their stories,91裸聊视频� Stolz said.

91裸聊视频淚 also believe that local communities need to have their elected officials being watched, you know? (With reporters) paying attention to what they91裸聊视频檙e doing, and then reporting what they91裸聊视频檙e doing to the community to inform people.91裸聊视频�

The number of local newspapers in Canada has been in steady decline for years, with a steep drop in 2023 after the end of pandemic-related government supports.

A study out of Toronto Metropolitan University91裸聊视频檚 School of Journalism found that between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2023, 36 local news outlets closed in Canada. Twenty-nine were community newspapers and seven were privately owned radio stations.

Stolz said he didn91裸聊视频檛 expect the Citizen to become incredibly profitable but believed he could turn things around to the point where he would hire more reporters in 18 months.

91裸聊视频淚 never envisioned the Citizen being something that91裸聊视频檚 going to be buying me a new vehicle. That91裸聊视频檚 not the case,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚f we go from a $56,000 loss to a $56,000 profit that means I can spend that money on additional wages for additional reporting.91裸聊视频�

He says his plan focuses on being 91裸聊视频減ro-Prince George,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频減ro-solution91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频減ro-business91裸聊视频� while remaining connected to the community.

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