Newspaper publishers, 2024

Released: 2025-11-10

Operating revenue at Canadian newspaper publishers continues to fall in 2024

The operating revenue of Canadian newspaper publishers declined to $1.6 billion in 2024, down by almost one-fifth (-17.9%) from 2022, when the Survey of Service Industries: Newspaper Publishers was last conducted. This decline occurred at a faster pace compared with the 7.3% decrease in operating revenue from 2020 to 2022.

Advertising sales, the largest source of revenue for newspaper publishers, fell by over one-quarter (-26.1%) from two years earlier to $722.8 million in 2024. Sales of both print and digital advertising saw large declines.

From 2022 to 2024, print advertising sales declined by just over one-third (-34.3%) to $407.7 million. Meanwhile, digital advertising sales, which had been a source of growth for the industry over much of the previous 10 years, declined 11.9% to $315.1 million.

Circulation sales declined 7.6% to $541.1 million in 2024, compared with 2022. While digital circulation sales increased 4.0% from 2022 to 2024, print circulation sales fell $49.9 million, driven by an 11.0% decline in print circulation sales for daily newspapers.

Operating expenditures remained a key concern for newspaper publishers in 2024, with companies taking cost-cutting steps to address declining revenue. Operating expenses fell 19.1% from 2022 to 2024, a slightly faster rate than the 17.9% decline in operating revenue. This resulted in a slight increase in the industry's operating profit margin, up from 1.9% in 2022 to 3.2% in 2024.

From 2022 to 2024, newspaper publishers cut spending on salaries, wages, commissions and benefits by 17.6%, reducing this expenditure to $655.7 million; this figure represents 42.0% of the industry's total spending.

Many newspaper publishers also reduced their print operations, in some cases adopting digital-only models. This, together with declines in the cost of newsprint in 2024, enabled the industry to lower its print expenditures.

Looking ahead

The industry continues to face pressure from declining advertising and circulation revenues and shifting consumer habits in a competitive landscape alongside other online platforms.

The 2026 estimates, planned for release in 2027, will reflect the impact of the industry's ongoing challenges.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).