Kingstonist.com, a digital news outlet, is working hard to fill the gaps, Sypnowich says. But it is a relatively small operation, with just three full-time journalists, a manager who occasionally helps out with news coverage, and a budget for freelancers. Forster and Fardella recently stepped up to support the publication, but their willingness to pay for digital news makes them a rarity. While almost three quarters of Canadians (72 percent) access news online, a majority still believe journalism is best served up free, with 57 percent indicating they won’t pay anything at all for it.

I love the Kingstonist! I have a subscription I pay for monthly. They have indeed been working very hard. They have traditional articles along with local news show on YouTube, an interview-oriented podcast, a community calendar, and a whole section they set up about the provincial election with candidate profiles and what not. They may be small, but they punch above their weight.