Effective May 3, 2024, James Morgan and Stephen Yantzi will be the new Co-Publishers and owners of The Review. They have been getting the pieces of this plan in place for several months and have spent the past few weeks ensuring the transition of ownership goes smoothly. Their goal: to continue delivering a high-quality publication without disruption to readers and advertisers.
For James Morgan, who has been the primary journalist at The Review since 2018, this new direction for The Review means added responsibilities. He will continue to have primary responsibility for news and information content as Editor and will assume oversight of many of the day-to-day operations at the office in Vankleek Hill.
Morgan was born in Belleville and raised in Frankford, Pontypool, and Listowel, Ontario. He studied History at Laurentian University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Ottawa, and Broadcast Journalism at Loyalist College. He has 20 years of experience in journalism, mostly in small towns and rural areas.
“My greatest satisfactions in life and work have always been from small town and rural community life. There are stories, issues, and events in these places that must be shared,” Morgan said.
Yantzi was born in Kitchener and raised in nearby New Hamburg, Ontario. He studied Political Science at Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario. As a skilled, fiscally responsible administrator with a strong sense of ethics, he understands the importance of journalism, local business, and public service. For 15 years, Yantzi worked in the offices of a federal Member of Parliament and two Members of Provincial Parliament.
“Much of my work has been in serving small and rural communities,” Yantzi explained. “I’ve seen how community newspapers make them stronger. That’s why I am so excited to be joining The Review.
Yantzi also grew up in a business-oriented family with an established legacy in the metal fabrication industry and agriculture. Yantzi has and continues to serve on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations.
In his new role with The Review, Yantzi will assume administrative responsibilities and contribute news stories and opinion columns.
Acquiring The Review is a responsibility both publishers do not take lightly. This is not only because of its more than 130-year history, but also because of the strong tradition of good quality and service to the community established by Louise Sproule, who has owned and published The Review since 1992.
“I have the career and direction I have today because of Louise. In 2018, she took me on as a freelance contributor with very few questions asked,” Morgan said.
“Louise never discouraged me once in my interest to learn more, and now I am about to oversee The Review’s future thanks to her guidance. I am forever grateful to her,” he added.
Community is at the heart of The Review, and that commitment shall not change. Both Yantzi and Morgan intend to not only have The Review serve as a record of community life, but also for it to continue its respected role as a contributor to it.
“The Review is a trusted source of information that remains as relevant today as it was decades ago,” Yantzi observed. “That is a testament to its dedicated staff, past and present. They innovated while staying connected to the community.”
Under their ownership, the new publishers plan to continue The Review’s tradition as a source of reliable news for readers and economical advertising for business while adapting to an ever-changing media market and society.
