Change coming for Prince Rupert's local newspaper

 Black Press has announced some changes ahead for their
Prince Rupert outpost and its online content

Readers of the Northern View in Prince Rupert and area will learn on Monday just how a newly announced subscription program will work and what benefits it will bring for those who subscribe. 

The heads up to the changes on the way coming with a front page item in this week's home delivery of the newsprint edition.

With a clarion call towards Truth, Clarity and Community, what appears to be the latest makeover for the Black Press publication is officially underway. 

The front page introduction from Northern View Publisher Melissa Ash, for the moment featuring some aspirational editorial goals it would seem, along with a dollop of some familiar cliches along the way.

Among the may declarations in the front page story was a segment noting of how the publication in the past has asked the tough questions along the way, though that may be a bit of a work in progress, considering the paucity of some elements of their community coverage of late. 

An area that is particularly noticeable when it comes to a lack of expansive pieces, comes through their local city council and civic administration themed coverage of late. 

Beyond the municipal scene, the focus on the Legislature from the North Coast perspective, has made for an area where the accounts have been infrequent.

That level of content could ramp up we imagine through another announcement found further into the paper from its delivery this week.  

The prospect of more coverage to come arrives through a Page 4 introduction to the community, which highlights a shift in location for Thom Barker. 

Mr. Barker,  a journalist and the Regional Editor for Northwest BC with Black Press, has been based in Smithers for the last four years.  His work making for coverage of the Bulkley Valley for the Interior News, his stories often reprinted in other publications in the chain in the region.

In his Wednesday editorial contribution, he announced his plans to make the move to the North Coast over the holiday period for personal reasons. 

His name however may already be somewhat familiar in the community.  

Sharp eyed readers of the local publication have no doubt already seen a few of his bylines on local stories in recent weeks, offering up a glimpse of what may be on the way come the New Year.

For readers and customers though, the real interest will be in what the subscription program will look like and what will, or more importantly perhaps, what won't be available in its current free format. 

The subscription content will be an element that is only to be available if local residents choose to deposit to the accounts of the local paper, responding to the call  "to support their local community news media."

And to that, all will be revealed come Monday morning.

The twin stories of change have yet to be posted to the local website, but you can review both through the Northern View's e - edition here.

More notes on themes of northwest media can be explored through our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.