Globe's retreat from Maritimes 'sign of the times,' says former editor

The Globe and Mail's decision to pullits print edition in the Maritimesis more proof that Canada needs to find new ways tofundthe news,says the paper's former editor.

Edward Greenspon, who served as editor in chief for seven years beginning in 2002,said whilehe's sad about the decision,he's also not surprised.

"I think it's a sign of the times," Greenspon told CBC's Information Morning. "There's a loss entailed in distributing the newspaper in Atlantic Canada where the readership is relatively thin."

What to do about that loss is at the heart of a report by Greenspon, who's now president and CEO of the Public Policy Forum, an independent non-profitthink tank.

The report,Shattered Mirror: News, Democracy and Trust in the Digital Age, was released in January and recommended ways forward for the news industry in the digital era.

Who should payfor the news?

The Globe and Mail will stop delivering to Maritime subscribers on Dec. 1 and the publisher told CBC News this week that thereare noplans to create an Atlantic Canadian version of the digital paper, as has beentriedin B.C.

The paper had previously stopped printing its paper in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013.

People anywhere can still get the digital version of the newspaper.

Greensponsaid you don't have to look far to see examples of print newspapers digitizing.

"There's many other publications that are moving online. Rogers has moved Macleans to a monthly schedule, but more regular in a digital format," he said.

Greenspon said Canadians are less interested in how they read the news, and more concerned that itstay strong and independent.

We think journalism is way too important to allow it to get possibly corrupted by receiving money from government.- Edward Greenspon, veteran journalist

But those who took part infocus groups and surveys for the Shattered Mirrorreport alsodidn't have ideas for how to fund newspapers now that traditional ad dollars are dropping.

The majority said they didn't want government funding the news, said Greenspon.

"We think journalism is way too important to allow it to get possibly corrupted by receiving money from government," said Greenspon.

There are also impediments to philanthropic journalism setups, such as ProPublica in the United States because of the wayCanada's charity laws work, said Greenspon.

According to the report, there were 102 newspapers soldper 100 households in Canada1950. By 2015, it was 18.The report projects that by2025, there will be just two newspapers sold per 100 households.