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THURSDAY OCTOBER 4, 2018 $2.00 WEEKLY IN PRINT. MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME. TheIFP.ca With newspaper advertising revenues decreasing and com- munities across the country in- creasingly at risk of losing local news, the time to support jour- nalism is "now more than ever," says the professional body that represents newspapers in Cana- da. News Media Canada is hoping to spread that message far and wide during National Newspaper Week, which runs from Oct. 1 to 7. "It's an opportunity for people to reflect on the importance (of newspapers) in their communi- ties, in civic dialogue and civic society in general," explained John Hinds, News Media Canada CEO, in late September. "It's about recognizing that journal- ists are skilled, trained profes- sionals that have real knowledge of the community. They have background, they can do the dig- ging and ask the tough questions. We've structured our society around having that role where someone can ask the tough ques- tions." That civic role is increasingly under threat in Canada, accord- ing to a study released Sept. 25 by Public Policy Forum, a think tank. Called "Mind the Gaps: Quantifying the Decline of News Coverage in Canada," it studied news coverage in 20 communities across Canada over a decade, and found that the total number of ar- ticles declined by almost half. Coverage of local councils and civic affairs declined by one third. Veteran journalist Sherine Mansour, who teaches at Oak- ville's Sheridan College, says the arrival of the internet in the 1990s changed the news landscape drastically. "Almost 20 years ago we saw the internet as an exciting new LOCAL NEWS NEEDS SUPPORT 'NOW MORE THAN EVER,' SAYS CAMPAIGN SAIRA PEESKER speesker@metroland.com See NEWSPAPERS, page 34 Oct. 1-7 is National Newspaper Week. Special coverage to mark the occasion can be found throughout this week's edition of the Independent and Free Press. Nikki Wesley/Metroland • your window & door professionals • 11 Mountainview Rd., N. Georgetown, ON L7G 4T3 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 27 times • Visit our showroom DISPOSAL A FAmILy TrADITIOn SInce 1953! "Scrap orWaste" S.O.W 1-877-688-6406 One of a kind same day service Bin Rentals for waste, wood, scrap and landscape www.sandersondisposal.ca 519-833-2614 geoff MALTBY VoTe✔ Councillor ward 2 Help keep Canadian newspaper journalism alive Pledge your support at newspapersmatter.ca S O LD krausemorris.ca 905.877.5211 23 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD S., GEORGETOWN Re/Max Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage. Independently Owned and Operated RE-ELECT Kentner "Supported by and paid for by Dave Kentner, candidate for Ward 3" WARD 3 1195 Steeles Ave East, Milton ON L9T2X8 289-627-1800 or 1-866-620-3248 www.achillesmazda.ca • info@achillesmazda.ca GT model shown 2018 cx-5 gs awd FINANCE FROM$99 † 3.35%at weekly for 84 months, with $1,535 down. All-in from $33,644. Excludes HST. Apr 0%PURCHASEFINANCING▼ ON SELECT NEWMODELS + $750WINTER TIRECREDIT▲ UP TO A Get more community news now