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Xtra Going All-Digital, Announces End To Print Editions

Xtra Announces End To Print Editions
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Canada’s leading newspaper dedicated to gay and lesbian journalism announced on Wednesday plans to end its print operations by mid-February.

Xtra, a free weekly paper with editions in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa, will restructure its business model to become an all-digital publishing company, the company said in a news release.

The decision comes after an eight-month strategic assessment of its operations. Twelve full-time employees will be laid off in the restructuring.

“[Pink Triangle Press] has survived for more than four decades because it has not been afraid to innovate in the way we earn our money and deliver our message,” explained PTP executive director and president Ken Popert.

“We have a good track record of online engagement through Daily Xtra and other channels like YouTube,” said digital media CEO David Walberg. “Most of our revenues already come through digital membership sales in the adult dating space, where we’ve had great success building a growing online community.”

PTP predicts the shift to an exclusively-online model will open the publication to a bigger audience. The company says the move will help put the organization in a “more effective” position to advocate LGBT issues.

Founded in 1971, the last print issues of Xtra Vancouver and Xtra Ottawa will hit stands on Feb. 12. Last copies of Xtra Toronto will be distributed Feb. 19 – the day the newspaper celebrates its 31st anniversary.

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