Media Monday Edmonton: Update #7

Here is my latest update on local media stuff:

• Conservative leader Stephen Harper has won a majority government in today’s election. Check out local media coverage: Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, daveberta, Global TV Edmonton. Some local stories include:
  • Peter Goldring’s campaign kicked the Edmonton Journal out of his office
  • Election day nears end in Edmonton
• Tomorrow is World Press Freedom Day!
• It appears Merge Magazine is back from the dead. A note on the website says: “In partnership with Art Angielski, General Manager of Sherwood Park Toyota, Merge has been given new life and a new opportunity to unite Edmontonians.”
• Congratulations to Calder Bateman on taking home ‘Best of Show’ at the Advertising Club of Edmonton Awards. The Fellowship Award was presented to Craig Roskin, former general manager of CITY-TV, for services to the Edmonton advertising community and to charity.
• In case you missed it: here’s my recap of Edmonton Journal Connect, an event the Journal held on April 20 to introduce its new publisher and editor-in-chief.
• One of Edmonton’s most popular blogs, Oilers Nation, has undergone some changes with co-founder Adam Rozenhart (aka bingofuel) deciding to leave the project to focus on his role at Calder Bateman.
• Submissions are now open for the Digital Alberta Awards, recognizing Alberta’s leaders in digital media. The awards ceremony will be held on June 6 at Hotel Arts in Calgary.
• The May 2011 newsletter from the Edmonton Journal is now online. According to the newsletter, the Journal’s mobile site received more than 1 million pageviews in March 2011.
• Finalists have been announced for the 37th annual Alberta Film & Television Awards. The awards gala and dinner will be held in Edmonton on May 28 at the River Cree Resort. Edmonton-based Panacea Entertainment leads the nominations for the most Rosie Awards at 10.
• Long-time Global TV anchorwoman Lynda Steele has gone on to her new role at CTV BC. Here’s her goodbye message to Edmonton (archive). She said: “Thank you for your support over the years – it breaks my heart to leave my dear friend Gord behind. I hope you continue to support one of the hardest working, most-talented news teams in the province.” I’m hoping Jennifer Crosby takes over the position (she co-hosted tonight’s election coverage with Gord Steinke).

Goodbye cake for Lynda Steele!

• Local blog the edmontonian has started airing its TV show, the edmontonian presents, on Shaw TV and online. You can check out the first episode here:

• The Edmonton Journal has launched its new blogs page. The new release is significant for two reasons: Journal blogs are now running WordPress, and the page now links out to non-Journal blogs (such as this one). It’s a step in the right direction. For some fun, take a look at the source for the new WordPress blogs. It contains comments like “really not happy about this” and “Copyright Postmedia 1994”. Also: I’m not sure if this worked before, but the domain blogs.edmontonjournal.com now takes you to the new page.

You can follow Edmonton media news on Twitter using the hashtag #yegmedia. For a great overview of the global media landscape, check out Mediagazer.

So, what have I missed? What’s new and interesting in the world of Edmonton media? Let me know!

UPDATE: Karen Unland, editor of edmontonjournal.com, has announced she is leaving the organization.