CORNWALL, Ontario – Cornwall has lost a major player on the local media scene.
Thecornwalldaily.com, a division Corus which included a handful of local journalists, was shut down this morning.
The move comes with the loss of three local journalists who worked for the station and means a significant reduction in the amount of local news the station will provide. They also broadcast regular news updates throughout te day at 101.9 and 104.5 FM.
Visiting the website provides only a warning that the link no longer exists with a message.
“We thank you for visiting The Cornwall Daily and encourage you to continue to access your local and national news headlines through www.variety104.com and www.cjssfm.com and their digital applications where you can access news, weather and lifestyle information.”
Corus Cornwall general manager Mark Dickie said the decision boiled down to economics.
“To sustain a news department in our market is no longer part of our business model,” he said. “How people are digesting their information is very different than four years ago.”
In 2010 the station shuttered its AM 1220 brand and moved to thecornwalldaily.com as a way of providing local news and other information updates.
Dickie said there will still be local news updates during breakfast shows on both its FM stations, 101.9 and 104.5, but that will constitute the bulk of its news broadcasts throughout the day.
Dickie added the decision was not a reflection of the work done by the news department.
“(News director Bill Kingston) and his team did a great job,” he said. “This decision had nothing to do with conduct, performance or passion.”
