City of PG gets rid of newspaper public notices

“There’s a number of ways that the media can pick up our story and run with it, and they will do that. That’s part of their business that they do everyday, when we have a good story, and when we have a bad story, either one. It goes out there, and our folks get to listen to it.”

That’s from Prince George City Councillor Frank Everitt during last night’s (Monday) council meeting, as the City decided to move to Facebook and their website as their main means of getting out public notices.

The Council, which was missing Councillors Garth Frizzell, Brian Skakun, Murry Krause, and Cori Ramsay, was given the choice by staff to either maintain the status quo, and publish notices in the newspaper, or make a bylaw to publish notices on the website and Facebook.

“The proposed bylaw staff recommend utilize the City’s website and the City’s Facebook page as the two official means of public notice,” said Corporate Officer Maureen Connelly.

The change won’t start until November, and Councillors had different opinions on this move.

“Physical paper medium is definitely dwindling to a degree, and trying to reach more folks in a more effective way I think is through online means,” said Councillor Kyle Sampson.

Communications Manager for the City Julie Rogers seemed to agree.

“I think I can say with confidence that our Facebook page will reach more people than the newspaper currently reaches. The newspaper can tell us how many papers they print, they can’t tell us how many of those newspapers were used as fire starter, or how many people read the ads.”

Sampson also pointed out that stepping away from newspapers will save the City over $100,000.

Councillor Terri McConnachie said she wasn’t too sure about having Facebook as PG residents’ main source of City news.

“Local media matters, and support of local media matters. I’m uncomfortable with Facebook being our primary source of people gathering our news.”