LAcadie Nouvelle changes printing, distribution to save money

L'Acadie Nouvelle, the province's only French language daily newspaper, has announced it will outsource its printing and change its distribution subcontractor in a bid to save money.

Aresult of the move, five jobs are being cut from l'Acadie Nouvelle's distribution and prepress section, as well as 15 from the Acadie Presse itself, according to Francis Sonier, the publisher and CEO of Acadie Media.

Meanwhile, L'Acadie Nouvelle plans tohire more reporters and columnists by September, company officials stated in a news release.

The changes will helpensure the long-term profitability of the independent daily, said Sonier.

"Acadie Presse won't close. We'll just reduce the production during the fall and we will specialize Acadie Presse on brokerage," he told CBC News.

They will also allow the newspaper to fulfill its "primary mission" to inform the Acadians of New Brunswick, as well as to promote and defend their interests, the statement says.

L'Acadie Nouvelle will now be printed and distributed by Irving-owned Brunswick News out of Moncton.

The paper will be slightly smaller in size and feature more colours.

Last summer, the French newspaper had asked forfinancial help from the provincialgovernment as it struggled with the economic slowdown.

At the time, the companyhad cut five employees, opted not to fill two other vacancies, and staff had agreed to work reduced hours.

But government officials later said the newspaper had resolved its financial problems internally.

The newspaper has a trust account that was initially set up with help from the provincial government to help L'Acadie Nouvelle offset distribution costs. The interest made off of that trust account normally generates between $600,000 to $700,000 a year.

But Radio-Canada reported last year the trust account generated only $212,000 for the newspaper.

With a drop in revenue from the trust account and a large debt leftover from the purchase of a new printing press, the media company went to the provincial government for financial help.

During the winter of 2010, the media company announced it was restructuring its operations under the name Acadie Media with three divisions: L'Acadie Nouvelle, the website CapAcadie.com and its printing operation Acadie Presse.

Sonier said Friday the newspaper'sdaily circulation isabout 16,000.

"Right now the sales are growing, since the beginning of the year. So this opportunity just helps us to progress and develop many projects faster," Sonier said Friday.

Sonier said workers who were let go are getting a package and transitional help.

Acadie Nouvelle will print its last issue in Caraquet on Sept. 8 and two days later, printing will continue in Moncton.

Brunswick Newscontrols three English dailies, a group of weekly newspapers and the French-language L'Etoile newspaper.