Here is my latest update on local media stuff:
- Using Klout, Hill + Knowlton Strategies has come up with a list of the ten most influential journalists in Alberta politics. Paula Simons tops the list, followed by Vassy Kapelos and Dave Cournoyer.
- The Journal received three nominations for the 17th annual Eppy Awards. Among them, Paula Simons was nominated for best use of social media, “in recognition of her innovative use of Facebook and Twitter”. Check back next week when I give myself an award for best use of pen and paper, in recognition of my innovative use of Moleskines and Sharpies.
- The Journal also picked up a silver in the best cross-platform initiative category of the 2012 Canadian Online Publishing Awards for their ebook on the Slave Lake fire.
- I missed this: a great profile on Terry Jones. “Today Jones is one of the most recognized media personalities in Canada. He does radio. He has thousands of followers on Twitter. But mostly he is known for columns that chronicle Canadian exploits around the world. More than anything he is still a newspaperman.”
- Missed this also: 630 CHED’s Dave Rutherford is being awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
- Global Edmonton has started using a new digital assignment board.
- Postmedia is getting out of the job listings business and has partnered with Workopolis to provide career-search features across all Postmedia newspaper websites.
- After nearly 30 years of service, CBC Edmonton’s house piano has been sold to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Apparently the ESO picked it up in August and used it at Symphony Under the Sky.
- Here are the details for 630 CHED’s Santas Anonymous Campaign 2012. They are looking for both donations and volunteers! Also check out Danny Hooper’s article on the auction.
- The November issue of Boyle McCauley News is now online with the theme of “Pay it Forward”.
- Happy Birthday to Daryl McIntyre!
- Here’s the latest advertising news from the Edmonton Journal.
- Has anyone used Vue Weekly’s Freeloader points thingy? Yes, that’s a technical term.
- It looks like 2013 will be the year of the paywall here in Canada. All Postmedia newspapers will be behind a paywall by then, as will The Globe and Mail, and now, the Toronto Star. I think the jury’s still out on whether or not it’ll work for local papers – they’re very different animals than the NY Times or the WSJ.
- Two reasons to link to this Edmonton Sun article. First, talk about trying too hard to make a connection: “Former Edmontonian caught in hurricane.” Seriously? And second, it turns out the subject is Dawn Chubai, former weather person on BT Edmonton from 1999 to 2004.
- Windows 8 was officially released on Friday, and that means the Windows Store is open for business. At the moment, there aren’t many Canadian news apps available. I like CBC’s the best so far. All of the Sun newspapers have an app, including the Edmonton Sun, but it doesn’t work.
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 
Wow. Why so bitchy about Paula? Your dislike for the Journal permeates every post about them.
Has nothing to do with Paula, I like her. And I don’t dislike the Journal, quite the opposite! I just think that “innovative use of Facebook and Twitter” is a bit of a stretch.
Great zing.
Hi Mack – Thanks for the shout-out, and the helpful reminder to be humble. I don’t mind the zinger – I was actually quite astounded myself to win the Eppy yesterday. (To clarify – NBC’s Today Show’s website, Today.com won for best use of social media in the larger market category. I won the parallel award for smaller market outlet.) I really do give the Edmonton Twitter and Facebook communities credit for the win. The judges seem to have been impressed with the way I’ve “built community” – and I sincerely and gratefully acknowledge that I wouldn’t have been able to do that unless we already had an amazing social media community here. I’ve learned a lot from you, Mack, and from Dave Cournoyer, and from many many of my Journal colleagues about working across social media platforms. It’s been a great adventure for me. But I did also wish to clarify one other thing. I didn’t nominate myself for either of these awards. The Hill and Knowlton thingy happened without my knowledge. And I didn’t even know that our social media editor, Kerry Powell, had nominated me for the Eppy, which is an international award judged by a very distinguished panel of judges, none of whom is known to me, until the short list came out last week. I do consider my win yesterday a win for Edmonton’s entire social media community. And I’m honoured to play a small part in its continued success. I’m also terribly proud of my colleagues Jana Pruden, Mariam Ibrahim, Brent Wittmeier and Lucas Timmons for their team Eppy win yesterday. It’s a challenging time here in the Edmonton Journal newsroom – and those two big international honours were a welcome morale-boost. Cheers! Paula
Thanks for the comment Paula, and for understanding that I just couldn’t resist the zing! And let me say congratulations, on the award, and the Hill + Knowlton list!