More than 100 people took part in a night of discussions on local news and fresh plans for The Telegram’s future on Thursday evening as part of the Open Up Project.
Mark Lever, president and CEO of SaltWire Network, spoke to the crowd about his commitment to local media.
“We want to keep The Telegram the way that it’s always been, but move it forward,” he said. “We know we are an important part of the heritage, but we want to be an important part of the future in this province, as well.”
In April, SaltWire Network acquired The Telegram along with 26 other Atlantic Canadian news brands, including Newfoundland and Labrador papers The Western Star, The Aurora, The Labradorian, The Northern Pen, The Nor’Wester, The Pilot, The Gulf News, The Southern Gazette, The Packet, The Beacon, The Advertiser and The Compass.
It is the largest independently owned media company in the country, and Lever says he truly believes in the industry.
“We believe this is a new era in local media,” said Lever.
Over the past six months Lever said he and his team have engaged in thousands of conversations with people across Atlantic Canada.
“A big part of this is talking to people who believe that there is a future in what we’re doing,” said Lever. “We learned that we need to listen to our audience more and get their feedback.”
The Open Up Project is a chance to have a conversation about Atlantic Canadian media, and for SaltWire Network to learn what their audience wants to see covered in the daily news.
You could choose between either engaging, recording or writing your feedback.
“It’s time to reconnect with the commu
nities that we are in,” said Lever.
Lever says this project will be ongoing for a couple of years.
“We want to continue to engage with you, and hear what you have to say about our products, brands and our reporting, so that we can be essential to you, and the communities that we are in,” said Lever.
Visit www.openupproject.ca to voice your opinion on what you would like to see covered in your community.
