Local newspapers should not be cut when it comes to public notice advertising: Councillors Linda Annis, Mike Bose

Surrey, B.C. (Sept 9, 2024): Surrey First City Councillors Linda Annis and Mike Bose say they will oppose any staff recommendation that would eliminate or restrict public notice advertising in Surrey’s community newspapers. A staff report is coming to Surrey council today that would rely on more social media and the city’s website, instead of local newspapers.

“When it comes to keeping our community informed, we should be looking at adding information tools, not cutting community outreach and public consultation,” said Annis, who opposed a similar move by then Mayor Doug McCallum in May 2022. “The fact is we need as many public information tools as possible to reach our residents, particularly on issues that are important to this city.”

“Our local Surrey newspapers, the Surrey Now-Leader, Cloverdale Reporter, and Peace Arch News, are important parts of our community, with 155,000 weekly readers,” said Bose.  “At the same time, community newspapers are a trusted source of news, public affairs, and community information. They do a terrific job of connecting our city and its neighbourhoods, and any plan to pull or restrict public notice advertising from our community newspapers will reduce community outreach. There’s certainly a place for social media and online information, but we should be working to increase community awareness and participation, not limit it to those who have the time or interest to visit the city website.”

Annis said city council should be supporting our local media and adding to the ways information is distributed across the city.

“By 2029 we will be the largest city in the province, and our local media will play an ongoing part in our growth,” explained Annis. “Our local papers are a terrific platform to reach Surrey residents, so let’s add increased social and online media to that mix, rather than thinking there is just one way to reach our citizens. Today, community newspapers provide a print and online version, and go a long way to reaching the people of our city. The city’s online presence is important, but it’s not the only way 600,000 Surrey residents get their information these days.”