BREAKING: The Coast (@TwitCoast) will not publish tomorrow. It is a victim of COVID-19. I have many things to say about this /thread
First, I don't know all the details. My understanding is that many people have been laid off, and there will be no print publication tomorrow, but two people will remain to put out a web-only version 2/
I called publisher Christine Oreskovich and she confirmed that tomorrow's paper won't be published, but was (understandably) so upset she couldn't say more. There will be an article published tomorrow about it, which is to say, tomorrow's is *the last* paper 3/
So CORRECTION I already screwed that up: tomorrow's is the last paper 4/
I want to first THANK both Oreskovich and Kyle Shaw for employing me for eight long years, and helping me establish myself in Halifax. I know I was a difficult employee (all on me) and they were kind to me 5/
I don't know if The Coast can weather a prolong shut down. We'll see 6/
But Kyle and Ori have done something quite remarkable: The Coast was one of the last alt weeklies standing, and that's a tribute to their hard work and perseverance 7/
Alt weeklies have faced enormous challenges over the last decade, as ad revenues from small businesses have collapsed 8/
And this COVID thing has brutally pulled the rug out from all the bars, restaurants, and small businesses whose advertising has supported The Coast. It is not a failure of business skills that is doing this to The Coast, but rather a totally unexpected pandemic 9/
I realize the economic crisis we're facing is going to hit lots of businesses hard, and lots will fail as a result, but I will always have a special regard for the alt weekly in general, and The Coast in particular, for providing an important journalistic voice 10/
I'm terribly sorry for the entire Coast crew, past and present. And I very much wish them all the best in these dark days. /end
