Despite constantly claiming the need to reduce costs by cutting down on the amount of space devoted to news and information, The Gazette somehow managed to save space for four full-page excerpts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) from a book about Canwest Global founder Izzy Asper this week, representing over 6,200 words. This does not include a 1,200-word review of the book which dismisses the fact that it was paid for and pre-screened by the Asper Foundation and Asper’s wife.

Since these excerpts appeared in newspapers across the Canwest chain, it seems clear once again that The Gazette exercised no editorial control and that this content was forced upon The Gazette by its Winnipeg-based owners, Asper’s sons, Leonard and David.

Do you believe The Gazette should control what appears in its own newspaper? Take action and keep The Gazette in Montreal.

The Montreal Newspaper Guild has been contacted by the conciliator and both sides have agreed to meet on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, 2009. As a result, journalists have ceased their byline strike and photos and articles created by Gazette journalists once again have their names attached. This is done as a show of good faith on behalf of Gazette workers, and the byline strike may return if it becomes necessary.

The work-to-rule campaign remains in effect.

Beyond the bargaining meeting in January, the guild is also awaiting an arbitration hearing Feb. 19 to deal with the outsourcing of editorial pages to Canwest Editorial Services in Hamilton, Ont. If the guild is successful at proving that the move violates the current contract, all work that has been outsourced will return to the Gazette and be done by Gazette employees in Montreal.

The Guild wishes to thank members of the public that have overwhelmingly supported our cause, and urge them to continue to express their feelings about the deterioration of quality that is a direct result of job cutbacks and outsourcing.

The Ottawa Citizen is refusing to allow its editorial employees to pull their bylines in a show of solidarity with fellow Guild members who are attempting to bargain new contracts at The Gazette in Montreal.

The newspapers are owned by Canwest Global Communications Corp. Guild contracts at both dailies contain clauses that give staff control over their bylines and credit lines.

The Ottawa Newspaper Guild has filed a grievance over management’s position and has no doubt it will win the case, says president Lois Kirkup.

Language in the contract is unequivocal, she notes. The relevant clause states: “Bylines or credit lines shall be used at the Company’s discretion provided that an employee’s byline or credit line shall not be used over his/her protest.”

The employer, says Kirkup, is arguing that pulling bylines and credit lines would hinder production and be a form of strike, which is “nonsense.”

The ONG, which through CWA Canada engaged in co-ordinated mobilization efforts in late summer and early fall when it and the Montreal Newspaper Guild were engaged in bargaining, continues to support the MNG. Although the ONG ratified new collective agreements late last month, the membership has been doing what it can to help colleagues in Montreal.

Kirkup says the Local’s members wore their black Guild T-shirts to a townhall meeting with the publisher in mid-October as well as to work.

“We’re still trying to do things to support Montreal,” says Kirkup.

Financial Post pages in The Gazette

Gazette readers were surprised today to find two pages in their newspaper that didn’t look like they belonged there.

The pages, produced by the Financial Post (a part of the National Post), were inserted into The Gazette, and identical pages inserted into all 10 Canwest-owned daily newspapers, as well as the Winnipeg Free Press (the National Post is no longer available for home delivery in Winnipeg). They include comment pieces from Financial Post writers that appear in the same day’s Financial Post, and a markets summary page similar to what appears in the Post.

This latter page replaces the Saturday stock listings that had already been reduced from three pages to one. Among the latest cuts:

• Bond listings are deleted entirely
• NYSE and NASDAQ’s 100 most active stocks are deleted, leaving only the top 10 winners and losers
• The three main indexes list only the daily change, and no longer include volume, daily highs and lows, or 52-week highs and lows
• The TSX industry indexes are deleted
• The number of foreign currencies listed drops from 40 to 10
• Mutual fund listings are deleted entirely, though The Gazette says they will “return soon”

In order to fit these new pages in the continually-shrinking Saturday Business section, the amount of locally-produced content has shrunk from five pages to less than three.

The Montreal Newspaper Guild believes this is a gross assault on the independence of local newspapers that hasn’t been seen since Canwest attempted to institute a national editorial policy shortly after purchasing the newspaper chain. Not only that, but subscribers to both The Gazette and the National Post are treated to intentional duplication of content.

The Gazette has no control over the content of these pages. Gazette copy editors and managers are not permitted to alter their content in any way.

Gazette Vice-President of Marketing Bernard Asselin told CTV News this week that “The Gazette’s goal, which is the same as the union’s goal, is to protect local content.”

With this move, it seems clear that The Gazette’s goals are subject to veto by Canwest management.

Do you believe pages in your Gazette should be replaced with nationally-produced Financial Post content? Do you believe The Gazette should have control over its own pages? Sign our petition and tell Gazette and Canwest management that you will not tolerate the continued erosion of local news.

Can you spot the local content on these pages?

Ottawa Citizen

Starting today, the Citizen’s Business & Technology section brings you two pages of highlights from the Financial Post. Each day from Tuesday through Saturday, you’ll find the trusted business analysis, markets insights and personal finance information that make the Financial Post an indispensable source of business intelligence. We welcome your comments. Please send them to feedback@thecitizen.canwest.com

Vancouver Sun

We’re very pleased to introduce today two new pages of content from the Financial Post. … I am delighted that this high-quality content is now part of your Vancouver Sun reading experience.

Calgary Herald

Beginning today, Herald readers will benefit from a new partnership between Calgary Business and the Financial Post.

Edmonton Journal

Edmonton’s best source of local business news is getting a special value-added boost from Canada’s most trusted financial newspaper — the Financial Post.

Victoria Times-Colonist

Starting today, one of Canada’s most trusted sources of financial news will become a regular part of the Times Colonist Business section.

Windsor Star

Today’s Windsor Star introduces a new feature designed to make you a better money manager. Two pages of stories, columns, graphs and charts from the highly respected Financial Post will break down market activity and give you the latest advice from top experts. … We hope you enjoy this enhanced coverage, and invite you to give us your opinion by dropping a line to fp@thestar.canwest.com

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Regina Leader-Post