National Post’s rural rebuff
The National Post’s reported decision to eliminate paper delivery to 156 rural communities across B.C. and Alberta is evidence of a dominant trend among large news media organizations says SFU communication expert Kathleen Cross. “They are reducing increasingly their interest and investment in local news,” explains Cross. “This is a result of a market strategy to reduce costs and focus on the most profitable news. It has resulted in layoffs in newsrooms and obviously has had a negative effect on the value and availability of news information in rural communities.  It demonstrates the internal conflict of for-proft journalism — the tension between being a large profit-seeking business and being a fundamental source of information for a democratic society.” Richard Smith, another SFU communication expert, says the National Post’s move is evidence of a digital-first strategy.

Kathleen Cross, 778.782.3861, 604.868.7568 (cell), kcross@sfu.ca
Richard Smith, 604.653.6073 (cell), richard_smith@gnwc.ca

Happy Holidays: faux pas or not
Oh to be politically correct or not — the latest holiday greeting seems to be making people go hot and cold over the holiday season. Clint Burnham, an SFU English professor with a liberal understanding of the meaning behind words, can offer thoughts on all the hullabaloo over whether wishing someone “Happy Holidays” is filled with meaning or not. “People tend to think it’s just a politically correct but empty phrase,” says Burnham.

Clint Burnham, 778.782.3438, 604.817.0185 (cell), clint_burnham@sfu.ca, @Prof_Clinty