CanWest restructures its metros

CanWest's metro newspapers are going though a series of wrenching changes related to newsroom layoffs and buyouts, outsourcing of page production and a shifting of editorial resources to web operations.

The restructuring, which is now being put into place, will see 20 to 30 positions bought out in Vancouver, while as many as 10 positions are being eliminated in Calgary through layoffs. About 15 positions could be affected at the Montreal Gazette's 155-person newsroom, with similar numbers expected in Ottawa and Edmonton.

At the Ottawa Citizen, design director Susan McDonough and photo director John Major have agreed to be bought out. One source at the paper described the Citizen's newsroom climate as "not happy."

The metros are now outsourcing portions of their national and international news pages, along with auto and travel sections, to CanWest's Editorial Services operation in Hamilton. Even the Calgary Herald's editorial pages are being outsourced.

One CanWest insider says outsourcing to Hamilton is causing production headaches in the home newsrooms. "It is actually taking more time for editors as they need to spend their time sending copy, headlines, photos, and then receiving it all back and sometimes needing to redo it all."

Jamie Pitblado, vice-president of promotions and community investment at CanWest's two Vancouver papers, the Sun and the Province, told the Globe and Mail recently the changes will allow CanWest to invest more resources in its Internet-based news operations, which could include adding positions on its websites.

"I think we're seeing a transition from a newspaper to a news-gathering organization. By moving some of this work out of here (to Hamilton), it will provide us with an opportunity to focus more energy and resources on driving local content, both online and in the paper."