Newspaper & Mailroom

Sun Media Announces Workforce Reductions

Wednesday 17. December 2008 - As a result of the fundamental transformation under way in the newspaper industry in recent years and the accelerated deterioration of economic activity affecting its print media revenue sources, Sun Media Corporation, Canada's largest publisher of newspapers, has announced that it will reduce its workforce by approximately 600 full-time equivalent positions as part of a major restructuring of its operations in Western Canada, Ontario and Quebec.

The staff reductions, the vast majority of which will occur by the end of the year, represents about 10% of the Company’s workforce, excluding mail room operations, for which staff count fluctuates based on volume.

This initiative is expected to result in restructuring costs of approximately $14 million.

This move is in response to major changes affecting the print media industry worldwide, driven by the growing availability of free access to media, changing readership habits as audiences move to the Internet, the advent of real-time information and digital transferability. The economic slowdown, rising costs and falling advertising revenues were also factors in the decision, which will help secure Sun Media’s future.

“The speed at which the current economic environment is deteriorating forces us to make difficult decisions at this time of the year,” said Pierre Karl Peladeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quebecor. “This decision in no way changes our commitment to our publications, our readers and our advertisers. We will continue to invest in the business. We have a responsibility to offer Canadians the type of news coverage they are entitled to expect from the country’s largest newspaper publisher, which is to say high-quality journalism focused on local news and exclusive features that meets changing consumer needs and habits.”

“The news industry is being revolutionized and we have to adapt if we want to remain an industry leader. We need to build a presence and build our brand in the digital universe and we need to do it as quickly as possible. We have to let customers get the information they want on the platform of their choice,” added Mr. Peladeau.