THE BACKSTORY

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Not too long ago, newspapers were king in Halifax — looking back at a dramatic transformation

BY KATIE INGRAM

As the role of the newspaper continually changes in Halifax, one thing remains the same: there is always room for alternative news coverage.

From the mid-19th to the early 20th century, Halifax was home to five main papers: the Morning Chronicle and its afternoon counterpart the Daily Echo, the Halifax Herald and the Evening Mail, and The Acadian Recorder. Others came and went, including the Halifax Citizen, the Halifax Morning Sun, the Dartmouth Journal, and the Unionist and Halifax Journal, plus faith-based papers like the Church Guardian.

The big five newspapers were the kings of East Coast media for many years. For example, the morning-afternoon duos of the Herald and Mail and the Chronicle and the Echo each had circulations of about 10,000 in 1901.

The reason behind this success is twofold, explains historical author and journalist Dean Jobb.

“First, it was the the only mass media: no radio, and it would be decades before television, so that’s how people got their news,” he says. “The other ... underlying factor was, at the turn of the century — early 1900s — the press was still partisan. In major cities, you would have a Liberal newspaper and a Conservative newspaper going head-to-head, promoting their party’s interest.”

Political involvement in newspapers waned in the 20th century, giving more editorial freedom. “It was possible to have an independent paper,” says Jobb.

However, readership started declining around mid-century, amid competition from exciting new technology like radio and TV. (Sound familiar?) And by becoming nonpartisan, many lost the loyalty of their core audiences. By the mid-1900s, the Acadian Recorder no longer existed and the remaining four of the big five consolidated in 1949 to become the Chronicle Herald and the Mail-Star.

Jobb says that was a widespread trend after the Second World War, with many towns seeing once robust newspaper scenes consolidated to a single publisher.

Alternatives have come and gone, including the 4th Estate which lasted from 1969 to 1977, the Daily News from 1974 to 2008, and the still-publishing Coast.

“The trend towards one-newspaper towns meant a monopoly in newspapers, and that does attract competitors, if they see a chance,” says Jobb. “It can be both a feeling that there’s stories that need to be told or are under reported.”

1752

The Halifax Gazette releases its first issue and is the first newspaper in Canada. It became the Nova Scotia Royal Gazette in 1867 and is now a government paper.

1813

The Acadian Recorder is founded.

1823

The British Colonist, a tri-weekly paper, launches.

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1824

The Novascotian, originally known as the Colonial Herald, releases its first issue. In 1827 Joseph Howe would purchase the paper. It would famously publish a letter in 1835 that would see Howe on trial for a libel, which he would win — a landmark victory for freedom of the press.

This timeline offers a snapshot of many of the newspapers serving Halifax over the years; it isn’t intended to be a comprehensive list.

1864

The Morning Chronicle releases its first issue. Its afternoon counterpart would be the Evening Mail.

1874

The British Colonist closes.

1874

The Morning Herald and Commercial Advertiser launches, eventually becoming the Halifax Herald. Its later afternoon counterpart would be the Daily Echo, forerunner of the Star.

1949

The Halifax Herald buys the Chronicle and Star, resulting in a morning edition called the Chronicle Herald and an afternoon one called the Mail-Star.

1930

After the death of owner C.C. Blackadar, the Acadian Recorder closes, relaunching as an afternoon paper in 1932.

1920s

The Novascotian, which became Nova Scotia’s Farm and Home Journal, shuts down.

1950

The Dartmouth Free Press is founded.

1969

The Fourth Estate, a newspaper that called itself a “second viewpoint” for Halifax, releases its first issue.

1974

The BedfordSackville Observer launches. It later became the Halifax Daily News.

1901

The Dartmouth Patriot is founded and the Atlantic Weekly ceases publication.

1893

The Atlantic Weekly, headquartered in Dartmouth, is founded.

January 1888

The Echo, previously known as the Citizen and Evening Chronicle, releases its first issue.

1977

The 4th Estate shuts down.

1982

The Dartmouth Free Press shuts down.

1993

The Dartmouth Patriot shuts down. 2004 The Mail-Star is discontinued.

2019

StarMetro shuts down.

2017

Transcontinental Publishing sells its Atlantic papers, both weeklies and dailies, to the Saltwire Network, the then-new parent company of the Chronicle Herald.

2008

Metro launches as the Daily News closes. A commuter newspaper with a mix of original journalism and syndicated content, Metro would eventually become StarMetro.

Left to right: Acadian Recorder, 16 January 1813, Volume 1 Number 1; The Daily Echo, February 1888, Volume 1 Number 1; The 4th Estate, 17 April 1969 Volume 1 Number 1 - Nova Scotia Archives

Nova Scotia Information Service Nova Scotia Archives no. NSIS 14945 Chronicle Herald

This space was used until 2008, when the Herald offices moved to Joseph Howe Drive. Herald / Evening Mail

William Dennis bought this former Halifax Herald office in 1900.

Acadian Recorder

The Acadian Recorder’s office was at this location from 1900 to its initial closure in 1930.

The Chronicle / Echo

In 1907, the Chronicle’s offices were at 85–93 Granville St. The Daily News

The offices of the Daily News when it shut down in 2008. Halifax Citizen

The Halifax Citizen’s offices, in 1876, were at 159 Hollis St. Halifax Citizen

In 1871 the Citizen was located in this area, at 25 Sackville St. Halifax Sun

In 1867, the Sun was located at the corner of Granville and

George streets. Halifax Sun

Before 1867, the Sun was at somewhere near 158 Hollis St. Halifax Herald

A 1926 city directory lists the Halifax Herald offices at 42–50 Sackville St.

The Chronicle

A 1926 directory lists the Chronicle (Chronicle Co. Ltd) at 85–93 Sackville St.

4th Estate

5211 Blowers St.

Novascotian

5140 Prince St. John Bushell’s Print Shop

Bushell was the publisher of the Halifax Gazette and likely published his newspaper at his print shop at the corner of

Grafton and Duke streets. Metro

Majority-owned by the publisher of the Toronto Star, Metro operated at 3260 Barrington St.