Dear Trent Hills Now Community,
It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to our dedicated readers, supporters, and the vibrant communities of Northumberland County. After nearly a decade of unwavering commitment to providing you with community coverage and balanced journalism, the News Now Network has reached a crossroads that compels us to announce the cessation of our operations.
Effective December 1st, 2023, our presence in Port Hope, Cobourg, Cramahe, and Brighton concluded. Now at the end of March of 2024, we will be bidding adieu to Trent Hills. This decision is not one made lightly but is a response to the significant challenges posed by the recent Federal Legislation Bill C-18, which has cast a shadow over the media landscape.
The debilitating stance of this legislation has imposed severe constraints on major online platforms such as Meta and Google, resulting in a staggering 90% reduction in sustained traffic to our website properties. The ripple effect of this legislative tussle has directly impacted our ability to deliver timely, accurate, and balanced journalism to our dedicated audience of more than 18,300 followers on Facebook, Instagram, and the platform formerly known as Twitter and thousands more online at our website newnownetwork.com
News Now Network (Trent Hills Now, Cobourg Now, Cramahe Now, Brighton Now, Port Hope Now) has always been driven by a commitment to community, transparency, and the pursuit of truth. However, the current landscape, marred by legislative battles beyond our control, has left us with no choice but to cease publication.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, supporters , loyal readers, community partners, and the incredible team of individuals who have contributed to the success of the News Now Network over the years. Your support has been the driving force behind our work, and we are immensely grateful for the opportunity to have served as your source for news and information.
As we bid farewell, we take solace in the memories and connections we’ve forged with each one of you. The News Now Network may be closing its doors, but the spirit of community and the pursuit of truth will endure in the hearts of all who have been a part of this incredible journey.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives. We hope that you continue to champion the values of community and responsible journalism in the years to come.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Jay Robinson, Publisher
Editor’s Message:
I would like to thank everyone who has supported us all these years. It has been an honour to write about this community and the people who live here. It is with great sadness I say goodbye to the publication that was my dream job come true and has become the ending of my journalist career of 45 years. I retire reminiscing about the drastic changes that journalism has seen over the past decades both from a technical standpoint and in terms of its reality of the day – where fake news and rumour and conjecture seem to have become the norm. For those of you who continue to read news from accredited sources I applaud you. Remember truth in journalism means protection of our democracy. I would ask that you think of those journalists who are still out there doing their best reporting every day, with a special tribute to those in war torn zones around the world, who put their lives on the line every moment to get to the truth.
As Jack Shafer, Politico’s senior media writer wrote: “the news business is cratering.” He leaves readers with some pointed questions: “Will journalism become a hobby like scrapbooking or street busking, done on the cheap or for donations, but one without much of a career path?”
Sincerely,
Sue Dickens
Note: The Trent Hills Now website continues to operate until April 1 2024 publishing media releases, submissions and events as provided to us. This extended time is to honour our commitments to advertisers who support us.
