Future in question for community newspaper

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This article was published 31/08/2020 (1905 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Point Douglas community members say they are concerned about The Point newspaper, the future viability of which may be at stake due to a possible funding shortfall.

The Point newspaper has been running for more than 25 years, according to the publication’s board chair Sel Burrows. Approximately two-thirds of the paper’s budget comes from the Province of Manitoba’s Community Support Small Grant Program, which flows through the North End Community Renewal Corporation into non-profit and community-led projects and organizations, Burrows said.

NECRC executive director Dawn Sands said the organization has not yet heard from the province about whether the funding will be renewed, though the NECRC is approaching the end of its five-year agreement with the province. Through the program, organizations can apply for up to $5,000.

“I haven’t had any reason to be concerned at this point,” Sands said.

But Burrows and The Point editor Maria Epp are already strategizing over how to keep the publication going.

“We will — come the fall — start running out of money. Probably enough for one more edition, I think, and then we’ll start scrambling,” Burrows said. “I’m forever optimistic and (we’ve) always been able to find alternative funding for things, so I’m not panicking yet.”

The non-profit newspaper, which is published four times a year and delivered for free to around 900 households across North and South Point Douglas, relies on donations, advertising, and grants.

The publication focuses on hyper-local events and news, and features submissions from local residents, officials, and organizations. The Point includes art submissions as well, such as photography and poetry.

“It gives people a sense of what other people in the community are doing, so nobody feels alone,” Burrows said. “And one of the weaknesses of inner-city communities is people’s sense of aloneness. Knowing that other people care about community and stuff encourages others.”

“It really celebrates the local energy and the initiatives that are taking place,” Epp added, saying it gives “people a voice to voice their concerns, and also the things that they love.”

Epp and Burrows said one of the benefits of the publication is that it’s relatively barrier-free — the large senior population benefits from large font and the print medium ensures people without access to technology or the internet can read it. There is also no subscription fee.

The Point involves community members behind the scenes, too. The most recent edition was printed at Accent Printing, located at 181 Higgins Ave., and a local person is always hired to deliver the publication door-to-door.

“Local people write in it. Local people read it. Local people produce it. It pulls the community together,” Burrows said.