Chains have numerous advantages over independent publishers. They have vast resources for modernizing and automating; they are in a better position to absorb temporary losses from strikes or other economic problems; and they can afford to hire financial and administrative skills that are often in short supply in small publishing enterprises.
In addition, the Royal Commission on Newspapers added that, ” Several editors and publishers of smaller dailies told the Commission?s researchers that chain ownership had increased the editorial independence of their newspaper by making it easier for them to resist pressures from local power structures.” Therefore, the vast amount of resources available to newspaper chains have kept the industry alive in Canada. Independent newspapers which were losing money within their communities have been bought out by companies like Hollinger and have been able to continue to provide the community with service, instead of shutting down and providing the community with no newspaper whatsoever. Therefore, I believe that concentration of newspaper ownership is not as negative as some make it out to be. Ultimately, I believe that newspaper chains like Hollinger and others are not a negative force within Canada. Their resource base and business know how allow them to service communities and cities within Canada with newspapers that would not be able to survive under independent