What is happening at ChristianWeek?
Failed venture weakens Canada’s Christian News Source
WINNIPEG–Mounting expenses from a failed business venture have mushroomed Fellowship for Print Witness's accumulated deficit, threatening the survival of ChristianWeek.
The mid-October financial collapse of Christian LifeStyle, a regional Christian newspaper (CW, Oct7/97 and Nov4/97), has left ChristianWeek with empty offices, reduced staff and a long list of fiscal obligations.
While the decade-old national newspaper has always struggled, the full scale of financial problems began to surface as the board of Fellowship for Print Witness, the parent corporation, took a hard look at operations in the wake of the failed publication and discovered a full-fledged crisis was well advanced.
In the aftermath, publisher Doug McLeod resigned and an interim manager was appointed.
Although he had anticipated working until the end of December, McLeod has been out of the office since mid-November. Before relinquishing the position–and unbeknownst to either the board or the editors–McLeod inserted his own explanation of the situation on the back page of the November 18 issue of ChristianWeek.
A postal strike has further complicated the situation for ChristianWeek, leaving the November 18 issue lingering on the docks in the post office and cutting off the regular revenue stream of advertising and subscription income.
In the meantime, Neil Janzen, former president of Mennonite Economic Development Associates, has been working as interim manager.
Strict cost-cutting measures have been implemented, including a decision not to publish the regularly scheduled December 2 issue. (Regular readers will receive an extension to their subscriptions.)
Currently the board is pondering a range of options. Members are looking for the means to continue under the current structure, an effort that includes an appeal to readers for donations. A letterfrom board chair Dan Burton, which was inserted in the November 18 issue and posted on the ChristianWeek web page on the internet, highlights the need.
They are also on the lookout for a compatible individual or organization with the desire and resources to take over the business. A final option, which is being given reluctant consideration, is to cease publishing entirely and simply shut down the paper.
For more information see Tough Times. A letter from ChristianWeek's board chair, Dan Burton, is available HERE.
