Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- The 23rd annual ATCO Edmonton Sun Christmas Charity Auction raised over $163,000 in support of four local charities: the Stollery Children’s Hospital, United Way, Christmas Bureau, and Catholic Social Services Sign of Hope. Lunch with Mayor Iveson sold for over $1000!
- Cam Tait says that although media folks are “ultra competitive”, the charity auction is way to bring media folks together who are “eager to share the goodness of the same story: Edmontonians, who need help the most right now, are going to get it.”
- Changes are underway at Global Edmonton to deal with the baby boom! Starting tonight, Quinn Ohler is anchoring News Hour Final, and Nancy Carlson is now officially co-hosting the News Hour with Gord Steinke.
- Here’s a feature on TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. He’s an Edmontonian, but he got his start at CFJC-TV in Kamloops back in 1998.
- CBC’s Mark Connolly says that “Edmonton AM is now #1 in the Edmonton radio ratings.” The last PPM ratings were released in September, so I’m not sure which ratings he is referring to.
- Here’s a feature on CISN’s Clayton Bellamy, who along with Chelsea Bird hosts the “Drive Home” slot from 2-7pm. “They’ve put a recording artist with no broadcasting experience on the air in prime time drive time. It’s never been done in this market before.”
- The Rotary Club of Edmonton is hosting a Roast of Bryan Hall on November 12 at the River Cree!
- The Edmonton Journal has an immediate opening for a “visual storyteller to play a leading role in developing content for the Journal’s forthcoming tablet app.” Ability to code is an asset.
- Want to intern at the Edmonton Journal? They are hiring three interns for the summer.
- Heads up if you’re a Shaw Internet customer (as I am): rates are going up effective January 1, 2015. They’ll notify customers of their new rate 30 days in advance of any charges.
- Take a look at what local bloggers have written in the last week!
- I guess Edmonton Sun readers like pie? A new promotion will give you a $25 Fifendekel gift card if you subscribe to the Sun.
- The next Capital Ideas Edmonton event is coming up on November 19. The topic this time will be how to hire well.
- A reminder that Edmontonians Matthew Garrett and Simon Underwood will appear on Food Network’s Donut Showdown on November 24 at 7pm.
- A new study on working as a journalist in the digital age found that journalists “faced increased workloads, declining pay, increased unpaid work, and job insecurity.”
- I guess paywalls aren’t for everyone: the Toronto Star is scrapping its paywall next year and is launching a free tablet edition instead.
- I’ve seen a bunch of things about comments lately. Reuters has decided to turn comments on news stories off, saying that “much of the well-informed and articulate discussion around news…has moved to social media and online forums.” Hacker News has run a number of experiments attempting to increase the quality of discussion and promises “to do more of them.” And Jeff Atwood, founder of Discourse, wrote an interesting post about online communities and empathy.
- Arif Noorani, The long-time executive producer of CBC’s radio program Q, has decided to leave the show.
- Has anyone checked out Shomi yet? It’s the new streaming service from Rogers and Shaw. Looks like it isn’t worth switching from Netflix, at least not yet.
- As of January 23, 2015, you’ll no longer have to give 30 days notice to cancel your television, phone, or Internet service. It’s the first change coming out of the CRTC’s “Let’s Talk TV” sessions. Let’s hope pick and pay is next.
- Take a trip down memory lane with the 60th Anniversary of CFCW:
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!
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