This is an open letter from the owners of the Whitehorse Star.

We would like to thank all the loyal supporters of the Whitehorse Star and let our customers and clients know that deciding to close the Star was very difficult for us.

This decision was not taken lightly.

We are not “tired”.

We are heartbroken.

Our dedicated staff have held on with us throughout these difficult years as advertising here locally (and throughout the world) has increasingly transitioned to social media platforms.

They have also had to manage the uncertainty and stress of not knowing what would become of us.

We appreciate them very much, and feel sick about having to let them go; only grateful we were able to give them enough notice to seek other employment.

As with all sectors in Canada in this economic climate, our expenses are higher than ever.

We need more staff in order to cover local stories on a daily basis and print here locally, but do not have the resources to hire.

We are not alone in this predicament.

More than two dozen newspapers in Canada closed their doors in 2023 alone; much larger companies with much deeper pockets.

We are one of the last, truly independent newspapers in Canada.

Our philosophy and work ethic have always revolved around our incredible community: local stories, local voices and local events.

Printing here in our community, versus outside the territory, is important to us, as are our local press employees.

Newspaper advertising still works!

Our loyal advertisers see results, and our loyal readers still want to feel an actual paper in their hands (and get ink on their fingers); however, we are facing what much larger newspapers with more resources throughout the country are experiencing.

That is: higher costs paired with lower advertising revenues.

Since our planned closure has become such a huge issue on social media, we felt it was now time for us to comment and share some of our concerns.

We had been negotiating with a group interested in purchasing the Star but, unfortunately, could not come to an agreement that would work for all parties.

The negotiations fell apart for myriad reasons, the biggest being the buying group’s proposed future operational plans that, in our opinion, simply were not realistic.

We may still be open to a reasonable offer; however, could not accept the terms put forward to us.

It is important to note that the financial aspect of a purchase is not the paramount item for the selling group; rather, any offer needs to be based on a realistic plan to keep the Star operational long-term.

In our decades-long experience in this business, the start-up costs for a turn-around plan would be enormous.

As well, maintaining it over the long term would be a continuing challenge.

Given the situation, it is our heavy-hearted opinion that an orderly wind-up of operations is in the best interest of staff and suppliers.

Thank you again to everyone who champions local journalism and print news.

Your support over the decades has been so greatly appreciated, and we will miss showcasing your stories every day. Illegitimus non carborundum.

Sincerely,

Michele Pierce
Melanie Pierce
Joni Pierce
Jessica Pierce
Judy Gibbons
Owners
The Whitehorse Star