StarMetro (newspaper)

StarMetro was a chain of Canadian free daily newspapers published in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, and Vancouver. The chain was a joint venture between the Canadian publishing conglomerate Torstar (90 per cent) and Swedish global media company Metro International (10 per cent). The chain was originally branded as Metro prior to rebranding on April 10, 2018.[1] StarMetro was not affiliated with the French-language Métro newspaper published by TC Transcontinental in Montreal.

StarMetro
"Investigate. Report. Effect Change."
A portion of the April 10, 2018, front page of StarMetro Edmonton
TypeFree daily newspaper
FormatCompact
Owner(s)Torstar (90%)
Metro International (10%)
Founded2000 (2000)
Political alignmentSocial liberalism[1]
LanguageEnglish
Ceased publicationDecember 20, 2019
HeadquartersToronto
CountryCanada
Sister newspapersToronto Star
Websitewww.thestar.com

In November 2019, Torstar announced that all StarMetro editions would cease publication on December 20, 2019.[2]

As Metro

The first Canadian newspaper owned by Metro International was launched in Toronto in 2000. The launch sparked a newspaper war as two of the city's major dailies, the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun, both responded by producing their own free versions aimed at commuters.[3] Metro Toronto merged with GTA Today, owned by the Toronto Star's parent company Torstar Corporation, in 2001.[4]

Metro International sold 40 of its 50 per cent share in all of its English-language Canadian papers to Torstar on October 14, 2011.[5] The Metro papers in Regina, Saskatoon and London ceased publication in 2014.[6] The chain's operations in Ottawa and Winnipeg were closed in November 2017 as part of an asset swap between Torstar and Postmedia Network that also resulted in the acquisition and closure of the rival 24 Hours chain in English Canada.[7][8][9]

StarMetro rebranding

The English-Canadian Metro papers were rebranded to StarMetro on April 10, 2018. As part of the rebranding, online news operations were consolidated with the Toronto Star and the former Metro News website was redirected to the Star's website.[1] The StarMetro chain also officially adopted the same socially liberal, progressive "Atkinson Principles" as the Toronto Star.[1][10]

End of print edition

Parent company Torstar Corp. announced on November 19, 2019, that StarMetro would be shut down due to a decline in print advertising and the increasing use of smartphones, laptops, and tablets. It said the final print editions in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax would be published on December 20.[11] As a result, 73 employees were laid off in the editorial, advertising and distribution departments. Instead, the Toronto Star planned to open digital bureaus with five reporters each in the cities where StarMetro was published, with the exception of Toronto.[12]

References
  1. "Toronto Star brand to expand nationally". Toronto Star. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  2. "Torstar shutting down StarMetro papers across Canada". CityNews Toronto. November 19, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  3. Pridmore, Lisa (June 23, 2003). "Free for All". Ryerson Review of Journalism. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  4. Damsell, Keith (August 26, 2002). "Metro Today redesign returns to roots". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  5. "Metro International Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012. On 14 October 2011 Metro signed an agreement for the sale of 40 percent of the shares in Metro English Canada to Torstar Corporation, the Canadian media group that already owned 50 percent of the shares in Metro English Canada. Metro owns 10 percent of the shares after the transaction.
  6. "Metro to close free print newspapers in Regina, Saskatoon, London". CTV News. The Canadian Press. July 10, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  7. "Torstar, Postmedia announce community and daily paper deal". Metro Toronto. Torstar News Service. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  8. Malone, Kelly (27 November 2017). "Metro Winnipeg stops publishing after Postmedia, Torstar swap". CBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  9. Cash, Martin (27 November 2017). "Metro Winnipeg axed in Torstar, Postmedia deal". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  10. Healing, Dan (April 3, 2018). "StarMetro? Toronto Star publisher rebranding free daily newspapers across Canada — cites appetite for 'progressive voice'". Canoe. The Canadian Press. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  11. "Toronto Star shutting down StarMetro newspapers". CBC News. 2019-11-19. Archived from the original on 2023-06-18.
  12. "Dozens laid off as TorStar closes StarMetro national free newspaper chain | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01.
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