Quebec’s community newspapers buck the national trend

Tashi Farmilo

Quebec continues to stand out in Canada’s newspaper world. According to the 2025 Snapshot report from News Media Canada, Quebec is home to 220 newspaper titles and prints around 8.7 million copies every week—more than any other province. Across the country, nearly 24 million newspaper copies are circulated weekly, with over 800 different titles.

A big reason Quebec’s numbers are so strong is that many of its newspapers are delivered for free. Across Canada, about 55 per cent of newspapers are given out at no cost, while 45 per cent are sold. In Quebec, this free model plays an important role in helping local and community papers reach readers, whether through the mail or picked up in stores and cafes. It keeps readership steady, even as more people get their news online or skip subscriptions.

In 2025, Canada had 750 community newspaper titles, putting out 766 different editions each week. Most of these papers use the smaller, more convenient tabloid format, which is easier and cheaper to produce than the larger broadsheet style. Around 8.5 million copies of community newspapers are printed every week, and almost all are distributed free of charge.

Quebec’s newspapers also tend to reach more people per edition than those in many other parts of the country. That shows that readers are still strongly connected to their local news sources, especially in smaller towns and bilingual areas where national media often doesn’t cover local issues. The balance between paid and free papers in Quebec seems to help maintain that connection.

There are a few reasons Quebec’s newspaper scene is holding on while others shrink. Ownership in the province is mixed between large companies and smaller independent publishers. That means readers get a wider range of perspectives and reporting styles. Quebec's mix of French, English, and bilingual communities also helps support a variety of local papers that speak directly to their readers.

Still, not everything is rosy. Like in the rest of Canada, many local newspapers have been closing, especially in smaller communities. Nearly three-quarters of the 571 local news outlets that shut down between 2008 and 2025 were community newspapers. Quebec has not been spared from this trend, and more areas are being left without local news coverage, what researchers call "news deserts."

In short, Quebec’s newspapers are doing better than most. Strong circulation, smart distribution, and local ownership have kept many of the province’s papers alive and well. But the steady loss of small-town newsrooms is a warning sign. If communities want to stay informed—community journalism will need continued support from readers, advertisers and government.