This National Newspaper Week, Canadians are Encouraged to Wear Their Support on their Sleeves— Literally

Iconic fashion designer Hayley Elsaesser – the granddaughter of a newspaper owner – launches limited-edition ‘Champion the Truth’ capsule collection in celebration of Canadian news media

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yesterday marked the official start of the 80^th National Newspaper Week, an annual opportunity for Canadians to celebrate and reflect on the essential service provided by the news media industry in this country.

“Now, more than ever, Canadians are turning to newspapers as a trusted source of information, because they know they can count on them for credible, fact-based news reporting,” said Bob Cox, Publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press and Chair of News Media Canada, the association that represents the Canadian news media industry. “An active and healthy democracy relies on an active and healthy news media. While we champion the work of Canadian newspapers all year long, this week provides a unique opportunity to recognize, celebrate and support our newspapers and the people behind them.”

In celebration of this year’s event, headline-grabbing fashion designer Hayley Elsaesser has partnered with News Media Canada to launch a limited-edition ‘Champion the Truth’ capsule collection. This unique collection includes a t-shirt, tote bag and mask, each emblazoned with the words “news” and “truth”, in various languages, alongside Elsaesser’s iconic mouthy print design. Elsaesser’s design was inspired by the role that newspapers play in supporting local communities – a connection that’s deeply personal to the designer.

“My grandfather was the owner and publisher of a local newspaper in British Columbia, so I’ve seen first-hand the impact a strong and thriving newspaper can have on the community in which it operates,” Elsaesser explained. “I’m a fierce supporter of a vibrant free press, and I hope this collection helps celebrate the important role newspapers play in keeping communities connected from coast-to-coast-to-coast.”

Newspaper readers across the country can now show their support for the industry by purchasing an item from Hayley’s Champion the Truth collection available at hayleyelsaesser.com. All proceeds from the sales of the Champion the Truth capsule collection will be donated to Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) in support of Canadian journalism.

“We know that nine in 10 Canadians are reading newspaper content in print or online every week,” concluded Cox. “This National Newspaper Week, we have a unique opportunity to show our support and appreciation to our local news media who have been committed to serving their readers, to publishing the truth, and to performing an essential public service providing credible, reliable journalism Canadians have come to rely on.”

A print and digital ad campaign that celebrates National Newspaper Week will also run in local, regional and national newspapers across Canada.

National Newspaper Week concludes this Saturday, October 10, 2020. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

About News Media Canada

News Media Canada is the voice of the print and digital news media industry in Canada and represents hundreds of trusted titles in every province and territory. News Media Canada is an advocate in public policy for daily and community media outlets and contributes to the ongoing evolution of the news media industry by raising awareness and promoting the benefits of news media across all platforms. For more information, visit www.newsmediacanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.