A South Asian publisher’s company has acquired the iconic Vancouver weekly newspaper The Georgia Straight and fired number of it’s top editors and reported including chief editor Charlie Smith. Overstory Media Group Co-founder and CEO Farhan Mohamed announced the purchase of Canada’s largest urban weekly publication and said the move will return the 55-year-old Vancouver-based news, lifestyle, and entertainment outlet to West Coast ownership after its 2020 acquisition by Toronto-based Media Central Corporation Inc.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER– A South Asian publisher’s company has acquired the iconic Vancouver weekly newspaper The Georgia Straight and fired number of it’s top editors and reported including chief editor Charlie Smith.

Overstory Media Group Co-founder and CEO Farhan Mohamed announced the purchase of Canada’s largest urban weekly publication and said the move will return the 55-year-old Vancouver-based news, lifestyle, and entertainment outlet to West Coast ownership after its 2020 acquisition by Toronto-based Media Central Corporation Inc. That transaction resulted in the merging of The Straight’s editorial department with marketing and sales, and the elimination of a long-standing focus on local arts and culture coverage.

Mohamed said Overstory’s first action will be to reinstate The Straight’s arts and culture focus and enhance its exceptional coverage of local events, entertainment, music, food, and news. As part of this effort, The Straight will continue to host some of the city’s most beloved, well-known cultural events, including the Best of Vancouver and Golden Plates awards. 

Overstory is already hiring, with multiple open roles posted on their job board, including Arts Editor, Music Editor, and Food Writer.

“The Georgia Straight is a household name across the Lower Mainland. I grew up with it being a pioneer of independent thinking, and a passionate supporter of the arts,” said Mohamed. “For decades The Straight was the place to discover the community, while also giving thousands of talented groups and individuals the chance to be discovered. I’m proud to bring it into the Overstory community, and to have the chance to rethink what the next 55 years will look like.”

Before the announcement of new positions, Overstory did some housing cleaning by giving the boot to longtime editor Smith and senior editor Martin Dunphy and reporter Carlito Pablito.

In a post written on Substack, Smith said he is grateful to have worked at the Straight for 28 years where he was given “tremendous freedom,” reported Postmedia

“I’m healthy and happy and looking forward to the future. I’ve been given many breaks in life and we’ll see what doors open for me in the weeks and months to come.”

Smith thanked his colleagues for their work during the pandemic and getting the publication “to the point where it could be purchased by a new owner.” 

Former staff reporter Carlito Pablo wrote a succinct farewell on Twitter, saying: “It’s been one hell of a ride. So long,” reported Postmedia

Mohamed said the acquisition of the acclaimed publication reinforces Overstory’s commitment to support and strengthen communities through high-quality, thought-provoking storytelling that inspires dialogue and action.

“The Straight is synonymous with West Coast culture and lifestyles, and has always been deeply committed to community news coverage,” Mohamed said. “No other publication knows more about Vancouver than the Straight does.”

Conceived in 1967 by life-long Vancouver resident Dan McLeod, who edited and published the newspaper until 2020, The Straight has been an outspoken alternative media outlet, setting the standard for meaningful, thought-provoking, and transformational editorial ever since.

“Over the coming weeks and months we’re going to take time to talk with readers, partners, and the community at large to redefine and rebuild the publication that’s lost its way over the past several years,” Mohamed added. “At its best, The Straight captured and explored the beating heart of Vancouver’s culture – and became part of it. We are committed to bringing that back.”‘