Métro (Montreal newspaper)

Métro (also called Métro Montréal or Journal Métro) was a French-language free daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The paper is wholly owned by local businessman Michael Raffoul who owns print media distribution company Transmet.[2] Journal Metro is part of the Metro Media group which owns several local newspapers in Montreal. Journal Métro Montréal was formerly part of the international group of newspapers Metro International.

"Métro Montréal" redirects here. For the subway system, see Montreal Metro. For the metropolitan area, see Greater Montreal. For other uses, see Montreal Metro (disambiguation).
Métro
TypeFree daily newspaper
Owner(s)Michael Raffoul
General managerAndrew Mulé
FoundedMarch 2001 (2001-03)[1]
LanguageFrench
Headquarters101 Marcel Laurin, Saint Laurent, Quebec, H4N 2M3
CityMontreal, Quebec
CountryCanada
Websitejournalmetro.com

History

The paper was founded in 2001, by Montreal-based Transcontinental which licensed the brand from Metro International, itself founded in 1995. It was part of several Metro free papers across Canada under various licensees. From its inception in 2001, it held a franchise as the sole French-language free daily newspaper to be distributed inside the Montreal Metro system and STM bus terminals[3][1]

In 2010, Journal Metro lost its franchise as the provider of the sole French-language free daily newspaper across the Montreal transit system to Québecor Média's 24 Heures (24 Hours; originally founded as Metropolitain).[1]

In January 2016, the Réseau de transport métropolitain concluded a five-year agreement with TC Transcontinental making Métro the only free newspaper to be distributed within the Montreal Metro system. This shut out 24 Hours.[1]

In May 2018, TC Media sold the Montreal edition of Metro, along with several other papers, to Michael Raffoul, who in turn contracted TC Media to print the newspapers.[4] These papers became part of the Metro Media group.[5]

In 2018, all the Metro licensees in Canada apart from Montreal were acquired by Torstar Group, publishers of the Toronto Star, and rebranded as StarMetro, though still in collaboration with the Swedish Metro International media group. This left the Montreal paper the only one with the Metro branding in Canada.[6][7]

In 2019, Torstar announced that all StarMetro papers would cease publication of paper editions, leaving only an online presence, and some employees would be transitioned to the Toronto Star network to handle the remaining online newspaper publication duties. This leaves the Montreal edition of Metro as the only remaining paper presences of Metro International in Canada.[6][7]

While considered a daily newspaper, the weekend edition often covers the days Friday to Monday inclusive, especially during the summer months.

In 2020, amid the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Métro laid off 40% of its employees and reduced its print edition to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, the paper suspended physical distribution from 10–31 August 2020.[8][9] In 2021, Métro underwent a relaunch, adopting a more magazine-like style with local content relating to culture and diversity, entrepreneurship, the environment, and social issues, and a redesigned website and mobile app designed to highlight content from its localized editions. The paper also changed its logo, dropping the Metro International-derived branding to reflect a goal of "bringing Montreal to Montrealers".[10]

On 11 August 2023, general manager Andrew Mulé announced that Métro would suspend all activities effective immediately, citing in particular that Transcontinental's replacement of the Publisac flyer bundle with a smaller booklet (due to a Montreal bylaw prohibiting the door-to-door delivery of flyers in plastic bags) and a lack of support from investors was detrimental to its finances.[11][12]In September, Métro Média, the paper's publisher, declared bankruptcy.[13]

References
  1. "Le journal Métro déloge le 24H dans le métro de Montréal". La Presse (in French). The Canadian Press. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  2. "Metro newspaper | Fagstein".
  3. "À propos de Métro". Métro (in French). Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  4. Beryl Wajsman (2 May 2018). "Montrealer Mike Raffoul acquires 30 community papers from Transcontinental". The Suburban.
  5. "Le nouveau propriétaire, Michael Raffoul, regarde vers l'avenir". Québec Hebdo. TC Media. 7 May 2018.
  6. "Fin de StarMetro: fermeture de cinq quotidiens gratuits". Journal de Montreal. QMI. 19 November 2019.
  7. Anjuli Patil (19 November 2019). "Toronto Star shutting down StarMetro newspapers". CBC News.
  8. Média, Métro. "Métro Média fait le point sur l'impact de la pandémie mondiale COVID-19 sur ses activités". www.newswire.ca (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  9. "Métro newspaper will stop printing for three weeks as COVID-19 cuts readership". Montreal Gazette. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  10. Mullally, Marie (2021-10-08). "Métro Média's president explains its redesign and 100% local strategy | Fagstein". Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  11. Mule, Andrew (2023-08-11). "Métro suspend ses activités". Journal Métro (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  12. "TC Transcontinental to replace Publisac with new bagless ad flyer". Montreal Gazette. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  13. "Métro Média to declare bankruptcy as local journalism takes another hit". CBC. Sep 17, 2023. Retrieved Sep 18, 2023.
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