Postmedia has reportedly decided to shut down the Norwich Gazette and Ingersoll Times.

OXFORD COUNTY - Postmedia has decided to completely shut down or seize publication at nine community newspapers; including the Ingersoll Times and Norwich Gazette.

Paul Morse is the President of Unifor Local 87-M; which represents multiple publications in Ontario. He explains why the media giant made this decision.

"They have a cash crunch that they're having to deal with in part because of a large debt that they hold. They have to find ways to save money to continue operating."

Morse could not speak to the number of local job losses or closing dates, adding his union does not represent the papers in Norwich and Ingersoll. Heart FM has reached out to Postmedia in an effort to gather this information.

Morse says we need to fight for local news.

"The thing that needs to happen is that people in valuing their local news; whether that's TV, print, online, magazines or radio have to press the government to do more to help newspapers in particular transition to new forms of getting local news out to the community."

Unifor Local 87-M would like to see the federal government change the tax laws to allow tax credit for online subscriptions. They would also like to the government to consider changing the charitable status of newspapers from for profit to non-profit or a charity, so they can receive philanthropic donations.