Media Monday Edmonton: Update #54

Here is my latest update on local media stuff:

• CTV Edmonton began broadcasting its local newscasts in HD today. “Over the last four months we basically rebuilt the station,” said Brad Hooper, CTV head engineer. “It’s been a huge undertaking.” Apparently the building has been transformed with about 30 kilometers of new cabling! Here is a behind-the-scenes look with Carrie Doll. The switch to HD is a longtime coming – Global Edmonton was the first TV station in the province to adopt the format, way back in November 2010. There’s a thread on CTV’s new HD Control Room here.
• There was lots of love for local media personalities in Vue Weekly’s Best of Edmonton 2012! Among the winners: Global Edmonton was named Best TV Station, CTV’s Josh Classen was named Best Local TV Weatherperson, Sonic 102.9 was named Best Radio Station, and Breakfast TV was named Best Local TV Morning Show.
• CJSR’s FunDrive 2012 is underway. The fundraising effort lasts until the end of the week. As of 12:15pm today, they had raised $42,152.35 or 33.7% of the $1250,000 goal. Jeff has a good post about why he made his donation.
• Vintage Edmonton has a bunch of stuff to check out. There’s a three-parter on radio (one, two, three) plus a collection of pictures and clippings from longtime CFRN-TV cameraman Al Girard’s varied career.
• Last week’s Relinked column suggests the switch to Facebook comments has been going well so far for the Journal. The latest column looks at Storify. “The Journal is not going to merely quote people any more than it’s going to merely post audio files of interviews and assume readers will parse the meaning from them.”
• Could Peter Brown be pressured by fans into returning to CBC’s Radio Active?
• More entries in Trent Wilkie’s Interview Project to check out: Brittney Le Blanc, Karen Unland, Jay Runham, and Marty Chan.
• Congratulations to long-time Edmonton Journal photographer Ed Kaiser, named Sports Media Canada’s Photographer of the Year.
• The newest edition of Boyle McCauley News is now online, and their editorial committee is seeking new members! The AGM will take place on November 21.
• Check out the last Capital Ideas panel on starting a business here.
• I totally missed the Digital Media Mini Summit that Linda wrote about in her latest article. You can check out a few photos of the event here.
• A couple of job postings to mention: the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is looking for a TV Camera Editor, and Avenue Edmonton has posted its opening for Assistant Editor.
• Lite 95.7’s Amanda Purcell is the new News Director at 100.5 K-ROCK in Fort McMurray. Tim Schutz, formerly of COOL 880 and EZ Rock, is the new Program Director at Lite 95.7, replacing Sara Parker who is now at HOT 107. There are more media moves here.
• Rayanne Forbes, daughter of Marty Forbes, is now a writer for the Edmonton Examiner. Marty reports: “She will focus on community efforts and events in the City of Edmonton so remember to contact her if your group has a special event that you want to brag about.”
• The Edmonton Journal received three excellence in online journalism nominations from the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Venture Publishing is also a finalist for Best Cross-Platform Initiative. The winners will be announced on October 22.
• According to a tweet from Deputy Editor Barb Wilkinson, it appears the Edmonton Journal’s Raise-a-Reader campaign has been cancelled this year.
• In case you missed it: Dave Cournoyer’s satirical take on a recent David Staples column is a must-read.
• Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, publisher of the New York Times from 1963 until 1992, died early Saturday at the age of 86. On Saturday, President Obama praised Mr. Sulzberger as “a firm believer in the importance of a free and independent press, one that isn’t afraid to seek the truth, hold those in power accountable and tell the stories that need to be told.”

A look at the HD Control Room. Photo by CTV Edmonton.

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!

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.