Reporter
carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
Less than 24 hours after the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday officially ceased operations, staff returned one final time to say their goodbyes and collect personal belongings.
Outside the Pembroke Street building in Port-of-Spain yesterday, former senior reporter Paula Lindo described the experience as devastating. She said it was painful to see years of hard work reduced to mere numbers as the liquidator carried out an asset evaluation.
“Because you’ve been working there… I was at that desk for like two, three years because I moved around in this room. So yeah, it’s just like this is no longer my home away from home,” Lindo said, visibly emotional.
The general reporter, who had been with Newsday for six years, joined the company just one month before the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining a steady income during a time of uncertainty. She expressed gratitude to those who hired her and trusted her to tell people’s stories.
“So, we were able to… We were able to do good. To enlighten the population, to educate them, to give them a voice in a lot of cases. Those were my favourite stories,” she said.
On January 23, High Court Judge Marissa Robertson approved an application by attorneys representing Daily News Ltd, the parent company of Newsday, to wind up its operations. The company cited ongoing financial difficulties, driven by steadily declining advertising revenue and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a staff briefing on January 28, liquidator Maria Daniel confirmed that the liquidation process had officially begun and that an assessment of Newsday’s assets was underway.
Lindo told Guardian Media that the news, while emotional, came as a relief after weeks of uncertainty. She also expressed concern for colleagues with monthly financial responsibilities.
“I’m contemplating what next I want to do in media… I know some of my co-workers — one has a mortgage and two children in university; another has two young children and a mortgage, and he’s the only one working in the family… We’re all kind of hoping that we will land somewhere good for each of us,” she said.
Specialist reporter Sean Douglas, who started at Newsday in 1996, echoed Lindo’s sentiment, noting that the reality of closure had yet to fully sink in. However, he expressed pride in the paper’s reputation for informing and uplifting people.
“It takes a little time to kind of hit you, you know, the actual reality of it,” he said.
Douglas emphasised that his work was never about salary and urged other media houses to give his colleagues priority.
“There are people in a worse position than me, and my prayers go out to them,” he said.
He also expressed hope that Newsday’s archives could be preserved so younger journalists can study past stories for inspiration and guidance in producing deep, well-researched reporting. Douglas questioned whether the closure reflected a broader shift in audience and advertiser preference toward online platforms.
Ryan Hamilton, who worked at Newsday for 12 years, reflected on his career in general, crime, and business reporting, describing his tenure as a dream fulfilled, though he has begun exploring other job opportunities.
“I was among the group of people who started reaching out to others. Nothing has happened as yet. Nobody has gotten back to me. But time will tell,” he said.
