When the Rocky Mountain Outlook began publishing a free weekly community newspaper in September 2001, its founders were well aware that journalism was essential to the functioning of a strong democratic society.
They were also aware that major changes were afoot in the industry and those changes would challenge newsrooms across the country to hold those in power to account.
Publishing its first issue shortly after 9/11, the fledging publication boldly challenged some of the long held assumptions the major players in the industry were making, namely that investing in journalism rather than cutting it would bolster the bottom line.
It was a Field of Dreams moment, because the idea was that if you build a strong newsroom, the advertising will come. If you invest in hard working, dedicated journalists, photographers and editors, in the long-term readers would notice and advertisers would invest in your print product.
Only a few years after the first issue, Facebook and Google were already beginning to disrupt the industry and news outlets were beginning to use websites as another way to deliver stories to readers.
Today, those two companies gobble up 70 per cent of all Canadian online advertising revenue, forcing newspapers to compete for a shrinking piece of the advertising pie in order to continue to provide the same level of journalism readers have come to expect.
As revenues declined, newsrooms have been downsized, publications bought up and shuttered and deals between media conglomerates have eliminated competition. The Bow Valley lost one publication and has seen another cut down to bare bones.
In total, 137 community and local newspapers have folded or ceased publication over the past decade.
The Outlook, however, has continued to succeed with the same fundamental core value that a strong newsroom that informs the community and contributes towards civic debate will attract readers and thus advertising.
Newspapers matter now more than ever and the Outlook is a beacon of hope in an era where diminishing journalistic resources are the norm, and well-staffed newsrooms are the exception.
October 1 to 7 was National Newspaper Week in Canada and this newsroom published more than 200 pages over the course of two weeks about news, sports and entertainment in the Bow Valley. That wouldn’t be possible without the vision that began the Outlook, our readers and support from local businesses.
It is a heavy responsibility to be the paper of record for a community and it is one we take seriously because we strive to be the trusted source of news that you get your information from.
The information our readers get in our pages and online reflects the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly nature of our daily lives in an era where the 24-hour news cycle can be overwhelming and cries of “fake news” can be heard all around us.
We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate our success with you and recognize that we wouldn’t be here without you.
The Outlook wouldn’t be an award winning publication with a full time staff that rivals some of the dailies in this province without your support.
The Rocky Mountain Outlook doesn’t just cover the communities of the Bow Valley, we are part of them and together we will continue to cover the stories that matter to you.
