The Canadian Record halts publication after 130 years, future now uncertain
CANADIAN, Texas (KVII) — The Canadian Record recently made the tough decision to halt its publication after 130 years.
The record, owned by Laurie Ezzell Brown’s family since 1948, suspended its print edition on March 2.
“You can just have such impact on a community as a newspaper editor here. I think it is a great job. It’s never boring, it’s always challenging, and it is often fulfilling,” said Brown, Editor & Publisher of The Canadian Record.
Brown said several factors motivated the decision to suspend.
They recently had a deal fall through at the last minute when trying to sell the paper. Immediately following that they were hit with a defamation lawsuit from the family of Thomas Brown, a boy who went missing in 2016 and was found dead years later.
RELATED: Brown family to file lawsuit claiming defamation against media, investigator says
“Given all those things I decided it was time to stop publication and start fighting this lawsuit and work harder on finding someone to take over,” Brown said.
The record has provided news to Canadian and the surrounding area since 1893.
One community member described it as a pillar of the community and a place he could always go to find reliable reporting.
“Now that’s gone and it’s sad that it happened. Without that newspaper we don’t know all of the fine details,” said Dave Strickland, a barber in Canadian.
Brown continues to work hard to find her replacement. She is looking for the right fit.
“Someone who understands the value of living in a small town. Who understands being a source of dependable and credible information? I think that is essential to the health of rural communities,” Brown said.
Brown, now 70, said she has covered it all in her time at The Record. For the first time in over 3 decades, she is not facing a deadline.
“I miss stirring things up. I miss making sure people know the things they need to know. There is nothing about it that I won’t miss,” Brown said.
A documentary titled 'For the Record,' is set to screen in Austin on April 13.
The film will feature Brown and The Canadian Record, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of small-town reporting.
