Tiny Alberta paper prints all the news it can fit

An upstart newspaper in Nanton, Alta., is taking on the town's established weekly with a publication that embraces the idea of being a small town paper — it's literally 1/16th the size.

The satirical take on the southern Alberta town's news — called the Nanton Experiment — is roughly the size of a deck of cards.

"It's not a typical newspaper with a lead and a who, what, where, when and why," said Peter Worden, who started writing and publishing it about a year ago in the town 75 kilometres south of Calgary.

Worden had been offered the job of editor at the Nanton News, but when its owner, Sun Media Corp., announced it would continue to publish the paper but close the town's editorial office, Worden set up his tiny publication instead.

"It's highly fictional, but like any fiction, there's an element of truth," he said. "The stories are all based on true events, but mostly it's made up. I get 90 per cent of my news tips from the bars."

The 100-year old Auditorium Hotel on Main Street and Highway 2 is one of Worden's main beats. And owner Larry Wynnyk is an avid reader.

'Sometimes I get paid in beer.' —Peter Worden, Nanton Experiment publisher

"At first, they said it'll never go, but everybody enjoys it. It's the big newspaper against the little guy," he said.

Nanton Experiment headlines have included, "Dog in Pickup Hits Pedestrian" and "Nanton Days Fireworks Foiled by Evil Ploy."

"One of the things it's similar to in composition is Bob Edwards's old Eyeopener," said Worden, referring to the early 20th-century newspaper that became legendary in Calgary for its irreverent approach.

"It came out semi-occasionally, which is very similar to my circumstances."

At first Worden called his publication the Nanton News Experiment, but Sun Media threatened him with legal action if he didn't remove the word "News."

So far, Worden has mostly distributed the papers door-to-door, giving them away. He recently began putting them in miniature newspaper boxes made from papier mâché and old shoe boxes.

With publishing costs at about $50 per issue, Worden can usually break even if he sells space for just one advertisement.

"But sometimes I get paid in beer."