‘It’s losing part of history’: Carlyle Observer closes after nearly 90 years in print

The Carlyle Observer, a small-town weekly newspaper, has folded after nearly 90 years in operation.

The final issue was delivered last week, with the paper officially shutting down on Dec. 18.

Carlyle sits roughly 200 kilometres southeast of Regina.

Stephanie Zoer worked as a reporter at the Observer for four years. She says the closure leaves a gap in local news coverage.

“When we were told that the newspaper was closing down, I was very emotional,” she said. “I really love this job. I got to cover so many great people and organizations. It was just getting the word out to the community.”

The paper was owned by Glacier Media. In a statement published in the final edition, the Vancouver-based company said the closure was a “difficult decision,” pointing to a decline in advertising revenue as businesses increasingly spend their money on large digital platforms instead of local newspapers.

Dolores Young was a manager at the Carlyle Observer. She says the closure represents the loss of more than just a business.

“It’s losing a part of history,” she said. “People say it’s the way of the times, but my personal opinion is you still need a newspaper.”

Young says that while digital platforms have become popular for advertising, many residents still value print journalism.

“Lots of people still want to read the news,” she said. “They want to hold a paper in their hand. They don’t want to go on a computer or click through Facebook to find out what’s happening.”

The closure comes amid a broader shift in Saskatchewan’s community newspaper landscape.

Steve Nixon, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association, says the loss is part of a growing trend, particularly among corporate-owned publications.

“It’s just revenue,” Nixon said. “When corporations don’t see the level of profit they need, this is the result.”

He added that larger media companies are increasingly stepping away from smaller markets.