Here is my latest update on local media stuff:
- The Edmonton Examiner has launched a redesigned website: “See your community news and events unfolding in full colour photos and video, brought to you by your favourite local columnists and reporters, right at your fingertips!” I like the new look, which is clearly inspired by the Edmonton Sun’s most recent redesign. The site is described as a “beta” and you’re invited to give feedback here.
- Thursday was Archie McLean’s last day at the Edmonton Journal. He starts next month as the managing editor for CBC North in Yellowknife. Congrats Archie and best of luck!
- After more than 30 years at the station, Chris Allen has retired from CKUA. Here he is in action back in July talking to Minister Klimchuk about Alberta Culture Days:
- Congratulations to Kevin Kossowan on reaching episode #50! Amazing stuff.
- Lowetide wonders how you get your sports news. “I’m finding fewer and fewer places on the internet where actual reporting followed by opinion can be believed at point of entry.” There are a lot of interesting comments on that post.
- Season four of The Unknown Studio is almost here! They boys have a cool new initiative underway too – they’ve partnered with Guru Digital Arts College to offer podcasters studio space and equipment for just $10 a session. Hopefully this leads to a bunch of new podcasts!
- Interesting post from Glenn Kubish on Washington D.C.’s new crowdfunded project Homicide Watch. Here’s the site’s description: “Using original reporting, court documents, social media, and the help of victims’ and suspects’ friends, family, neighbors and others, we cover every homicide from crime to conviction.”
- All I can say is wow, you’ve got guts Heather! Metro Edmonton’s Heather McIntyre rappelled down the Sutton Place Hotel on Tuesday to raise funds for the Easter Seals.
- Linda wrote all about Social Media Breakfast last week. My schedule makes it really difficult to attend, and I wish they had a real website. But clearly the events are popular and there’s no shortage of topics to explore.
- Karen Unland and the Capital Ideas team are building toward something, even if they’re not sure what it’ll look like just yet. I think they have come a long way in a short period of time. The next event takes place tomorrow and features Jeff Archibald, Alyson Hodson, and Jeff McLean.
- GIG CITY writes about Avenue Edmonton’s push for an SCTV monument.
- Here’s a profile of Mike Zouhri, founder and CEO of SHAVE.
- This is pretty cool: Edmonton writer Marty Chan is curating the @PeopleofCanada Twitter account this week! Check it out here.
- Void TV is new to me, and I see they have a new magazine too. Looks like another interesting source for local music news.
- Head over to the Garneau Theatre on Friday night for Bump it at the Metro! – “Local filmmakers have created bold, original, and often times hilarious pre-show films under 60 seconds long. Come out and view them all, vote for your favourite, and have a drink with us. The selected bumpers will move in to rotation at Metro Cinema during the coming year.”
- A little more than a year since he joined CTV Edmonton’s Morning Live, Craig Larkins has departed for CBC in Toronto.
- I think there’s some questionable logic in David Johnston’s most recent Relinked column. Talking about the popular Hummer Hero story, he wrote: “If it takes a punchy headline, an offbeat story, or a trivia game to pull a reader into the Journal’s news circle, how can that be a bad thing? They’re still reading the news: they just get to it from an interesting place.” He goes on to say that 40% of the Journal’s web traffic is internal (from one page to another). Note that does not mean visitors are reading the news, and there is no information about the bounce rate, time on site, or link depth visited. Arguing that less-serious stuff is important to attract people to the serious stuff feels like an argument a newspaper would make, given the long history of bundling. I’m just not sure it’s accurate.
- I don’t know why, but I kind of like this photo…maybe it’s the “couch” transit bench!
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!
MasterMaq's Blog 
Another great look at what’s going on in Edmonton media. A post I never miss!
Homicide Watch is a site I’ve kind of seen out of the periphery of my Internet watching the last couple of years. It’s a good example of the kind of journalism that can, and does, occur outside of the “professional” side of media. It fills a gap, tells a story, and opens a conversation. Glad to see it’s still alive and kicking.
I had the pleasure of grabbing a drink with some of the Void TV crew last year. They’re really passionate about music, and Edmonton music, and it’s also a great example of coverage that continues outside of the arts pages. There’s plenty of live recordings on their site with lots of local talent.
You know, I have actually never been to a social media breakfast…
Cool, glad to hear the Void TV crew are so passionate. I’ll have to pay more attention to them!
Thanks for reading 🙂
I get completely aware through this post that what is hot topic locally in Edmonton these days.