Introduction

Legacy news media everywhere are in decline. Mostly this is due to the loss of advertising revenue as advertisers move to online platforms that better target specific demographics, but there are other factors at play as well — a demand for higher return from distant owners, the vitriol of political partisans against media, oftentimes sloppy reporting as news organizations attempt to play it safe in a divided society, and more.

The Chronicle Herald is among the last of the truly independent legacy newspapers in Canada, owned by the Dennis family for more than a century. But the Herald also faces many of the problems faced by other newspapers across the country, albeit with its own particulars.

The Halifax Examiner has been watching the Herald decline, and has reported on it through a newsroom strike, the creation of the SaltWire Network, and now as it falls into creditor protection.

This page collects our reporting on the Chronicle Herald and SaltWire over the years.

Note: If the story is one of several items in an older Morning File, we’ve noted the item # or section where it appears, and you may need to scroll down in the post to reach it.

Articles written by Tim Bousquet unless otherwise credited.

Click or tap here to go to the beginning.

2024

139. SaltWire was offered to 158 potential buyers; all of them turned it down
(March 27, 2024)

138. Mark Lever wants to buy SaltWire
(March 22, 2024)

137. An RCMP cop says SaltWire defamed him, but he’ll likely never be able to get his day in court
(Morning File, March 20, 2024)

136. SaltWire placed under creditor protection
(March 14, 2024)

135. Will The Herald continue to exist? Yes. I mean No. Er, sort of.
Morning File, March 13, 2024)

134. The end of SaltWire: What happened and what happens next?
(March 12, 2024)

133. BREAKING: private equity firm puts SaltWire in receivership
(March 11, 2024)

132. SaltWire ordered to pay $500,000 in security for costs related to Transcontinental lawsuit
(March 7, 2024)

131. Herald pensions
(Morning File, February 20, 2024)

130. The Halifax Herald must pay $2.6 million in disputed pension payments, rules Supreme Court justice
(February 20, 2024)

129. SaltWire v Transcontinental
(Morning File, January 29, 2024)

128. Herald pension plan
(Morning File, January 15, 2024)

127. Pension plan says the Halifax Herald owes it more than $70,000
(January 13, 2024, by Suzanne Rent)

126. SaltWire hopes to get up to $2.5 million a year from Google
(Morning File, January 5, 2024)

A table showing SaltWire companies had net assets of -$63 million and a loss of $26.5 million in 2022.
SaltWire companies had net assets of -$63 million and a loss of $26.5 million in 2022. Credit: SaltWire filing with the court

2023

125. SaltWire paywalls obituaries
(Morning File, November 21, 2023, by Jennifer Henderson)

124. SaltWire obits
(Morning File, November 20, 2023, by Suzanne Rent)

123. RCMP officer sues SaltWire over ‘incorrect and defamatory’ indecent exposure story
(September 14, 2023, by Zane Woodford)

122. Getting paid by the people you’re covering
(Morning File, July 6, 2023, by Philip Moscovitch)

121. The collapsing news biz: Transcontinental asks court for costs judgment in SaltWire case
(Morning File, June 21, 2023)

120. Halifax Herald appeals $2.6 million Labour Board judgment
(Morning File, May 3, 2023)

119. SaltWire gets even dumber
(Morning File, January 27, 2023)

The front page of The Chronicle Herald, advertising a cut-out Canadian flag inside.
Photo: contributed

2022

118. SaltWire cutting rural delivery
(Morning File, November 24, 2022, by Philip Moscovitch)

117. SaltWire discontinues at least some rural delivery
(November 24, 2022)

116. What if Monday disappeared and no one noticed?
(October 9, 2022, by Stephen Kimber)

115. Monday print editions of newspapers are ending, but we still need good reporting
(Morning File, October 5, 2022, by Ethan Lycan-Lang)

114. One media dinosaur gobbles up another
(February 20, 2022, by Stephen Kimber)

113. Postmedia to buy Brunswick News
(Morning File, February 18, 2022)

112. Saltwire case moves to PEI
(Morning File, February 7, 2022)

the Chronicle Herald sign outside of a mirrored high-rise office building. The logo is in red and black, and is on a bright steel silver backplate.

2021

111. Transcontinental says SaltWire still owes it $10 million
(Morning File, October 8, 2021)

110. Lawsuit claims SaltWire used the pandemic as an excuse to fire 6 long-term Charlottetown employees and replace them with lower-paid workers
(Morning File, July 23, 2021)

109. Save journalism!
(Morning File, March 2, 2021, by Philip Moscovitch)

108. Saltwire’s weeklies are on the chopping block
(Morning File, February 22, 2021)

2020

107. 109 Saltwire workers laid off
(June 23, 2020, by Yvette d’Entremont)

106. Just when we need local reporting the most, local media outlets are scaling down operations
(Morning File, March 25, 2020)

The front pages of the Chronicle Herald, Cape Breton post, the Telegram, and The Guardian.

2019

105. A pinch of SALT
(Noticed, Morning File, December 19, 2019, by Philip Moscovitch)

104. Saltwire v Transcon: the environmental problem
(Item #3, Morning File, October 11, 2019)

103. Is the SaltWire Network serious about its lawsuit against Transcontinental?
(Morning File, June 4, 2019)

102. How to value 27 newspapers spread across three provinces: the Ford Falcon test
(Item #2, Morning File, April 16, 2019)

101. SaltWire sues Transcontinental
Item #3, Morning File, April 11, 2019, by Philip Moscovitch)

100. Journalmalism 101: This week, Halifax lost four very good Canadian Press reporters; in return we got… Christie Blatchford
(Item #2, Morning file, March 29, 2019)

2018

99. The gospel according to Mark
(July 15, 2018, by Stephen Kimber)

98. We’re watching Mark Lever destroy journalism in Nova Scotia
(Item #2, Morning File, May 31, 2018)

97. BREAKING: Saltwire announces consolidations and layoffs at its Nova Scotian papers
(May 30, 2018)

96. More on sponsored content
(Item #2, Morning File, April 27, 2018)

95. Northern Pulp Mill’s “sponsored content” in the Herald
(Item #3, Morning File, April 24, 2018)

94. The Herald’s news reporting on Northern Pulp Mill looks like a packaged advertising deal (Item #3, Morning File, Tuesday, January 16, 2018)

93. Calvin Clarke wins his constructive dismissal suit against the Chronicle Herald
(January 12, 2018)

A white man with close cropped dark hair and beard
Calvin Clarke. Credit: contributed

2017

92. Constructive dismissal
(Item #1, Morning File, November 10, 2017)

91. A “Herald man” sues the company, and lots of details emerge
(Item #1, Morning File, November 9, 2017)

90. The Herald steps on journalism ethics by publishing government propagandist Peter Moreira
(Item #2, Morning File, Tuesday, September 19, 2017)

89. The Herald strike ends; how long will the bitterness linger?
(September 10, 2017, by Stephen Kimber)

88. Mark Lever and sins against journalism (Will readers return to the paper?)
(Item #1, Morning File, August 21, 2017)

87. Mark Lever and sins against journalism
(August 21, 2017, by Stephen Kimber)

86. The Chronicle Herald continues to suck on the government teat
(Item #2, Morning File, Friday, August 18, 2017)

85. The Herald strike is over. Now what?
(August 14, 2017, by Stephen Kimber)

84. The Chronicle Herald strike is over
(Morning File, Friday, August 11, 2017)

83. Chronicle Herald vote today
(Item #1, Morning File, August 10, 2017)

82. Chronicle Herald strike
(Item #3, Morning File, August 8, 2017)

81. Chronicle Herald (mediation begins)
(Item #2, Morning File, August 4, 2017)

80. The Chronicle Herald strike meets the “final option”
(July 17, 2017, by Stephen Kimber)

79. The Ministry of Truth
(Views 1, Morning File, July 4, 2017)

78. The Chronicle Herald probably couldn’t survive without public money
(Morning File, Tuesday, June 27, 2017)

77. Chronicle Herald talks
(Item #4, Morning File, May 5, 2017)

76. Stop the presses! SaltWire and the destruction of journalism
(Morning File, Monday, April 17, 2017)

75. Can Mark Lever succeed where far smarter, far more experienced minds have failed? No
(April 17, 2017, by Stephen Kimber)

A white man with dark wavy hair and glasses laughing.
Mark Lever Credit: Tim Bousquet

74. Another reporter leaves the Chronicle Herald
(Item #4, Morning File, April 10, 2017)

73. Prisoners and the Chronicle Herald
(Item #1, Morning File, April 7, 2017)

72. HTU renews request for provincial review
(Item #1, Morning File, February 23, 2017)

71. Chronicle Herald talks break down (Halifax Typographical Union release)
(Item #2, Morning File, February 10, 2017)

70. A Chronicle of errors
(January 30, 2017, by Russell Gragg)

69. The first column I never wrote for the Chronicle Herald
(January 23, 2017, by Evelyn White)

68. John’s Lunch sucks and other inflammatory comments: New company & society registrations (Dormie Golf Workshop, Inc.)
(January 5, 2017)

67. The tragic loss of news photography
(Noticed, Morning File, January 3, 2017)

Chronicle Herald newsroom employees picket outside the Marriott Hotel yesterday.

2016

66. Just how bad can the Chronicle Herald get?
(Item #3, Morning File, December 23, 2016)

65. Just how low, and how bad, can the Chronicle Herald get?
(Morning File, November 21, 2016)

64. ‘Make Never,’ Grant Machum and ‘Graham Dennis isn’t around to save you anymore’
(November 21, 2016, by Stephen Kimber)

63. Chronicle Herald strike hitting arts organizations hard
(November 14, 2016)

62. Chronicle Herald (raising subscription rate)
(Item #2, Morning File, November 9, 2016)

61. Destroying my father’s legacy
(November 9, 2016, by Heather Dennis)

60. People still read newspapers?
(Item #2, Morning File, October 20, 2016)

59. The convention centre delay non-story
Item #2, Morning File, October 6, 2016)

58. Council candidates slam the Chronicle Herald
(Item #1, Morning File, October 4, 2016)

57. Cape Breton Star
(Item #2, Morning File, September 16, 2016)

56. Union estimates Herald has spent $400,000 on security since strike began
(Item #2, Morning File, August 31, 2016, by Erica Butler)

55. Another reporter leaves the Chronicle Herald
(Morning File, August 19, 2016)

54. Unique Solutions
(Views 1, Morning File, August 8, 2016)

53. Unique Solutions is kaput; Our failed business press
(Items #1 and #2, Morning File, August 3, 2016)

52. Chronicle Herald (Local Xpress profiles striking workers)
(Views 3, Morning File, June 27, 2016)

51. TMI — Marilla Stephenson has a new job
(Views 1, Morning File, June 14, 2016)

50. Without professional journalists, the Chronicle Herald is crap
(Morning File, June 2, 2016)

49. Chronicle Herald strike; Unique Solutions
(Items #1 and #2, Morning File, June 1, 2016)

48. Charlatans and grifters (Unique Solutions stumbles on)
(Morning File, May 24, 2016)

47. Local Xpress expands: “We’re taking the Herald on head-to-head”
(May 19, 2016)

46. The drivel and bullshit factory (Newspapers are publishing all sorts of crap nowadays)
(Noticed, Morning File, May 11, 2016)

45. Garbage journalism
(April 30, 2016, by Jesse Ward)

44. Chronicle Herald (new information about despicable article)
(Item #3, Morning File, April 18, 2016)

43. Chronicle Herald (fallout from despicable article continues)
(Item #3, Morning File, April 13, 2016)

42. The collapse of the daily newspaper
(Item #1, Morning File, April 12, 2016)

41. The Chronicle Herald unfairly maligns kids in its attack on refugees
(April 10, 2016)

40. The Robot Tailors have failed us (Unique solutions)
(Item #1, Morning File, March 25, 2016)

39. Dartmouth body scan company on the verge of going belly-up
(March 24, 2016)

38. Chronicle Herald
(Item #4, Morning File, March 23, 2016)

37. Local Xpress
(Views 1, Morning File, March 10, 2016)

Chronicle Herald strikers on a sidewalk on a cold and sunny day
Chronicle Herald newsroom workers picket outside the Marriott Hotel yesterday. Credit: Jennifer Henderson

36. Chronicle Herald president Mark Lever a no-show at Game Changers event
(March 2, 2016, by Jennifer Henderson)

35. William Dennis, “The Friend of The Men”
(Noticed, Morning File, March 1, 2016)

34. Irrelevant
(Views 1, Morning File, February 29, 2016)

33. Can Mark Lever succeed where far smarter, far more experienced minds have failed? No
(April 17, 2017, by Stephen Kimber)

32. Bullshitter of the Day: Alex Liot
(Item #4, Morning File, February 25, 2016)

31. You can’t be neutral about the Chronicle Herald strike
(Morning File, February 24, 2016)

30. Chronicle Herald reporters are jumping ship
(Morning File, February 23, 2016)

29. Local Xpress
Morning File, February 1, 2016)

28. Strike
(Item #1, Morning File, January 26, 2016)

27. Strike
(Item #1, Morning File, January 25, 2016)

26. Mark Lever: an “innovator” with no new ideas whatsoever
(Morning File, January 21, 2016)

25. Professionalism, bylines, and newspaper junk
(Item #2, Morning file, January 14, 2016)

24. Lockout looms
(Morning File, January 12, 2016)

A tall blue glass building, with a grey and black sign out front reading "The Chronicle Herald" in black and red letters
Chronicle Herald

2015

23. Once more, the Chronicle Herald fails its readers (Rainmen and Hurricane)
(December 24, 2015)

22. Death spiral at the Chronicle Herald
(December 21, 2015)

21. Not a top story in the Herald… (Chronicle Herald pulls out of negotiations with unionized employees)
(Item #4, Morning File, November 14, 2015, by El Jones)

20. Uncritical, brown-nosing and boot-licking (A family affair: conflict of interest at the Chronicle Herald)
(Item #4, Morning File, June 29, 2015)

19. Unique Solutions (another Chronicle Herald sleight of hand)
(Item #2, Morning File, June 10, 2015)

17. “Anti-journalism”: the Chronicle Herald’s World.Oyster.Go. advertorials for NSBI are a step too far
(April 2, 2015)

17. Back to work
Morning File, March 9, 2015)

16. Pressmen, Chronicle Herald have deal
Morning File, March 7, 2015)

15. Lockout
(Item #3, Morning File, February 23, 2015)

14. Stop the presses?
Morning File, February 10, 2015)

13. Top employer
Item #5, Morning File, January 8, 2015)

In a mall, a blonde woman and a white man, both dressed in black, demonstrate a large tubular kiosk with a curved glass door. Inside it stands another woman.
Philadelphia Inquirer fashion writer Elizabeth Wellington took her turn in the Mybestfit scanner at
King of Prussia Mall in 2010, with Unique Solutions’ chief technical officer Bob Kutnick and CEO Tanya Shaw.
The kiosk was removed from the mall in early 2013. Credit: philly.com

2014

12. Pay no attention to that man not behind the curtain
(Unique Solutions puff piece, VIEWS #1, Morning File, December 4, 2014)

11. Ian Thompson quits
(Morning File, December 2, 2014)

10. More on Canadian Pravda
(VIEWS #2, Morning File, November 8, 2014)

9. Canadian Pravda: How the Chronicle Herald fails its readers. A case study
(November 4, 2014)

8. Bloody Friday at the Herald
(Morning File, November 1, 2014)

7. Chronicle Herald apologizes, reverses course and cancels opt-out subscription increase
(October 1, 2024)

6. The Chronicle Herald won’t win any friends with its insidious “opt-out” charging
(September 29, 2014)

5. Armageddon and journalistic ethics
(Views #1, Morning file, September 8, 2014)

4. Chronicle Herald to disclose columnist Peter Moreira’s conflict of interest
(August 15, 2014)

3. Chronicle Herald fails to declare columnist’s conflict of interest
(August 13, 2014)

2. The Fourth Estate: Halifax’s great radical newspaper
(July 9, 2014)

1. Scapegoating Heritage Trust
(July 3, 2014)

A middle aged white man with a close cropped receding hairline and a pained little smile
Peter Moreira is paid by government agencies to promote the companies he writes about in his Chronicle Herald column.
In the case of Unique Solutions, he also owns stock in the company.
A button which links to the Subscribe page
A button link which reads "Make a donation"

Tim Bousquet is the editor and publisher of the Halifax Examiner. Twitter @Tim_Bousquet Mastodon

Stephen Kimber is an award-winning writer, editor, broadcaster, and educator. A journalist for more than 50 years whose work has appeared in most Canadian newspapers and magazines, he is the author of...

Philip Moscovitch is a freelance writer, audio producer, fiction writer, and editor of Write Magazine.

Jennifer Henderson is a freelance journalist and retired CBC News reporter.

Suzanne Rent is a writer, editor, and researcher. You can follow her on Twitter @Suzanne_Rent and on Mastodon

Yvette d’Entremont is a bilingual (English/French) journalist and editor who enjoys covering health, science, research, and education.

El Jones is a poet, journalist, professor, community advocate, and activist. Her work focuses on social justice issues such as feminism, prison abolition, anti-racism, and decolonization.

Ethan Lycan-Lang is a Morning File regular, and also writes about environmental issues, poverty, justice, and the rights of the unhoused. He's currently on hiatus in the Yukon, writing for the Whitehorse...

Evelyn C. White is a journalist and author whose books include Chain, Chain, Change: For Black Women in Abusive Relationships (Seal Press, 1985,) The Black Women’s Health Book: Speaking for Ourselves...

Zane Woodford is the Halifax Examiner’s municipal reporter. He covers Halifax City Hall and contributes to our ongoing PRICED OUT housing series. Twitter @zwoodford

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