National Post
Conrad Black launched the National Post on the 27th of October 1998. The original launch date was set for October 5, but financial complications from acquiring the Financial Post caused a three-week delay. Black built this new newspaper around the existing Financial Post, which Hollinger Inc. had purchased from Sun Media in 1997. He intended to create a direct competitor to The Globe and Mail, which he viewed as representing the Liberal establishment under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Ken Whyte was appointed editor to lead the paper into its first year of operation. Outside Toronto, the Post utilized printing infrastructure from Southam Newspapers, including titles like the Ottawa Citizen and Montreal Gazette. This national network allowed Black to distribute his flagship title across multiple provinces immediately upon debut.
CanWest Global Communications Corp acquired fifty percent of the National Post in 2000 and the remaining half in 2001. Israel Izzy Asper controlled CanWest until his death in October 2003. His sons Leonard and David Asper then assumed control of the company. In 2006, the newspaper ceased distribution in Atlantic Canada and the Canadian territories. Print editions were removed from all Atlantic Canadian newsstands except Halifax by 2007. By 2008, the paper suspended weekday editions and home delivery in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to focus on online publishing. Paul Godfrey assembled an ownership group in 2010 to acquire the chain from financially troubled Canwest. That group completed a one point one billion dollar transaction on the 13th of July 2010, forming the Postmedia Network. Chatham Asset Management later acquired a sixty-six percent stake in 2016, leading to staff reductions including one third of the editorial team.
The Post launched with a conservative editorial stance that advocated for unite-the-right movements against the Liberal government. Original members of the editorial board included Ezra Levant, Neil Seeman, Jonathan Kay, John Williamson, and Alexander Rose. The paper supported the Canadian Alliance party during its early years. Matthew Fraser served as editor-in-chief from 2003 to 2005 when the Post endorsed the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2004 election. After the Conservatives narrowly lost that election, the paper shifted support to the victorious Liberal government led by Prime Minister Paul Martin. This shift made many conservative readers feel betrayed. The newspaper switched camps again before the 2006 election when the Conservatives won a minority government. Izzy Asper had been a strong supporter of the Liberal Party despite owning a conservative-leaning publication. His family controversially dismissed Russell Mills, publisher of the Ottawa Citizen, for calling for Chrétien's resignation.
Lucie Lacava created the original graphic design for the National Post while based in Montreal. The paper now bears the motto World's Best-Designed Newspaper on its front page. Gayle Grin guided a major redesign unveiled on the 27th of September 2007. This update standardized typeface sizes and reduced the number of fonts used throughout the publication. Charts and graphs received cleaner font treatment under the new system. The nameplate banner moved from the top of Page One to the left side of each section front page. The Toronto edition includes additional local content not found in other regional editions. It is printed at the Toronto Star Press Centre in Vaughan until that facility closed. The main office currently sits at 365 Bloor Street East in Toronto after vacating the Don Mills location in 2012.
On the 19th of May 2006, the newspaper published two pieces alleging Iran passed a law requiring religious minorities to wear special identifying badges. A front-page news item titled Iran Eyes Badges For Jews accompanied a picture from 1935 showing Jews wearing Nazi-ordered yellow badges. Experts quickly denied the story accuracy, yet it generated comments from world leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Iran summoned Canada's ambassador Gordon E. Venner for an explanation. Editor-in-chief Doug Kelly published an apology on page 2 on the 24th of May 2006, admitting the paper had not checked sources carefully enough. In 2024, columnist Chris Selley wrote about the Russian documentary film Russians at War claiming it showed the human face of Russians. Another article by Chris Knight claimed Ukrainian suppression efforts existed despite international criticism of the film. An academic study found the National Post represented scientific consensus on climate change only seventy point eight three percent of the time.
The National Post publishes Monday through Saturday with Monday released as a digital e-edition only since the 19th of June 2017. Distribution covers Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia provinces. Weekend editions reach Manitoba and Saskatchewan markets. The main office occupies 365 Bloor Street East in Toronto. Printing occurs at Postmedia's Islington Plant in Rexdale alongside the Toronto Sun and London Free Press. Staff composition includes executive producers like Nicole MacAdam and Terence Corcoran who serves as FP comment editor. Columnists such as Jordan Peterson and Barbara Kay contribute regular commentary. The newspaper lists former staff including Christie Blatchford and George Will among its history. Current operations reflect a shift toward digital distribution while maintaining physical printing capabilities across multiple Canadian cities.
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Common questions
When did Conrad Black launch the National Post?
Conrad Black launched the National Post on the 27th of October 1998. The original launch date was set for October 5, but financial complications from acquiring the Financial Post caused a three-week delay.
Who acquired the National Post in 2010 and what transaction value was involved?
Paul Godfrey assembled an ownership group to acquire the chain from financially troubled Canwest. That group completed a one point one billion dollar transaction on the 13th of July 2010, forming the Postmedia Network.
What editorial stance did the National Post take during its early years under Ezra Levant and Neil Seeman?
The Post launched with a conservative editorial stance that advocated for unite-the-right movements against the Liberal government. Original members of the editorial board included Ezra Levant, Neil Seeman, Jonathan Kay, John Williamson, and Alexander Rose.
Why did the National Post cease distribution in Atlantic Canada and the Canadian territories in 2006?
In 2006, the newspaper ceased distribution in Atlantic Canada and the Canadian territories. Print editions were removed from all Atlantic Canadian newsstands except Halifax by 2007.
How often does the National Post publish and which provinces receive daily editions?
The National Post publishes Monday through Saturday with Monday released as a digital e-edition only since the 19th of June 2017. Distribution covers Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia provinces.