The Intelligencer (Belleville)

{{short description|Daily newspaper in Ontario, Canada}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = ''The Intelligencer'' | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | image = BellevilleIntelligencer.jpg | caption = Front page of the May 30, 2020 edition | type = Daily newspaper | founder = George Benjamin | founded = 1834 | publishing_city = Belleville, Ontario | website = {{URL|https://www.intelligencer.ca/}} }}

'''''The Intelligencer''''' (locally nicknamed the ''Intell'') is the daily (except on Sundays and certain holidays) newspaper of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The paper is regarded mainly as a local paper, stressing local issues over issues of more national or international scope.

==History== [[File:Hastings County Archives HC01477 (21326313568).jpg|thumb|right|George Benjamin founded the ''Belleville Intelligencer'']] The ''Belleville Intelligencer'' was founded in 1834 by George Benjamin, who, after just arriving in the city, is said to have stopped in at a hotel and asked to purchase the local newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplayGenContent.aspx?e=99 |title=George Benjamin - Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA |accessdate=2009-07-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20100929115909/http://intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplayGenContent.aspx?e=99 |archivedate=2010-09-29 }}</ref> He was then informed of the young city's lack of a local newspaper, as several attempted newspaper publications turned out to have been short lived and had failed. This innocent question eventually led to George Benjamin establishing the Intelligencer in 1834, although it was originally regarded as another attempt that was likely destined for failure in the long run.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Many newspapers predated the ''Intelligencer'' in Belleville, and all folded quickly. The first recorded paper was ''The Anglo-Canadian'' in 1829 which folded within a year. Other attempts included ''The Phoenix'' in 1831, ''The Hastings Times and Farmers' Journal'' in 1833, and finally ''The Standard of Moira'' which lasted only six weeks in 1834. These previous failed newspaper publications dampened the original public opinion of the Intelligencer, although the outlooks eventually lightened.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

The ''Intelligencer'' originally consisted of only four small pages and was originally only a weekly publication.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} In 1897, D'Alton Corry Coleman became city editor for the ''Intelligencer'' at age 18.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former President of CPR D. C. Coleman Dies at 77|date=October 17, 1956|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=3 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/obituary-clipping-oct-17-1956-1845234/}}{{free access}}</ref> Later on it would be sold to a young Sir MacKenzie Bowell (a future Canadian Prime Minister), who had come to work for George Benjamin at the ''Intelligencer''. It has also been stated{{by whom|date=July 2014}} that MacKenzie Bowell's political career started at the ''Intelligencer'', with its then firm political views. After obtaining the ''Intelligencer'' MacKenzie Bowell would remain its owner until 1917 the year of his death at the age of 94.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

The media group Sun Media purchased the newspaper in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.intelligencer.ca/2009/08/10/sun-media-president-ceo-visits-quinte-area|title=Sun Media president, CEO visits Quinte area|work=Belleville Intelligencer|date=10 August 2009|accessdate=30 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808041027/http://www.intelligencer.ca/2009/08/10/sun-media-president-ceo-visits-quinte-area|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The purchase moved the paper's editorial policy significantly to the right.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/commentary/2011/11/10/canadas-right-wing-media-monopolies-move-further-right|title=Canada's right-wing media monopolies move further right|author=Donald Gutstein|work=Vancouver Observer|date=11 November 2011|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref> In spring 2014, the ''Intelligencer'' and other Sun Media properties were sold to Postmedia, owner of The ''National Post'' in Toronto.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com//news/canada/postmedia-buys-sun-medias-english-titles|title=Postmedia buys Sun Media's English titles for $316-million — including flagship Toronto Sun|work=nationalpost.com}}{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The ''Intelligencer''{{'}}s current advertising director is Gerry Drage, its managing editor W. Brice McVicar.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

In September 2017, PostMedia transferred the ''Intelligencer''{{'}}s distribution to a private distribution company. Big Creek Services Corporation is based in Napanee Ontario and manages the distribution of 5 of PostMedia's newspapers and has a network of almost 500 on contract newspaper carriers.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.intelligencer.ca/}} *[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=issn%3A0839-1912&qt=results_page ISSN 0839-1912] *[http://news.ourontario.ca/2445166/data?n=57 The Intelligencer]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Intelligencer Belleville}} Category:Mass media in Belleville, Ontario Category:Newspapers established in 1834 Category:Daily newspapers published in Ontario Category:Postmedia Network publications Category:1834 establishments in Canada