Media Monday Edmonton: Update #137

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• Ryan Jespersen’s new show on 630 CHED kicked off this morning. You can listen to the entire thing or specific hours on SoundCloud. Cam Tait wrote about the new challenge for Ryan recently.
• GigCity.ca has posted more than 2,200 stories since February 2011 on a variety of Edmonton-related topics, but now they’re ready to become more focused. “After four years trying to be everything to everybody, January 2015 can be considered the official launch of GigCity as an exclusively music (and cartoon)-based Edmonton news source.”
• CKUA has announced changes to their program schedule, slated to take effect on February 1. They’ll be “bringing you more overnight programming from CKUA, and less BBC.”
• Sarah O’Donnell reports that she is moving to the assignment editor position at the Journal, with Mark Suits focused on the smartphone edition.
• Adam Rozenhart, Trent Wilkie, and Andrea Beça are launching a new sketch comedy web series called Friends Without Benefits. Check them out on Facebook and RSVP to the Episode 1 launch party. Here’s the teaser:

• Al Girard reports that a memorial took place on Tuesday for Peter Leonard who passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 84. He was Director of Art and Design for CFRN Television for over 30 years.
• Don’t miss the Morning News Journalism Meetup taking place on Friday morning. Get your free tickets here.
• Meet the team behind The Local Good blog! And if you want to become a contributor, you can apply here.
• Marty Forbes has some praise for Jason Gregor, up 99.3 FM, and others in his latest Page 6 column.
• Here is Karen’s latest Edmonton blog roundup! Sounds like a busy week in the blogosphere.
• For the latest on social media, check out Linda’s latest social media notes.
• Here’s a long piece from Byron Christopher on what it was like to cover the prison beat. He was a criminal justice reporter at CBC Edmonton from 1981 to 1995, and then worked as a news reporter for 630 CHED from 1996 to 2008.
• Edmonton-born actor Eric Johnson was in town offering some advice to students at Westlawn Junior High School.
• Kaitlyn Bristowe, one of the bachelorettes on the newest season of ABC’s The Bachelor, grew up in Leduc. She currently lives in Vancouver.
• Just as they are south of the border, new media organizations are changing the political landscape in Canada.
• Which publications are publishing the new Charlie Hebdo cover image? BuzzFeed has the list.
• I thought this was interesting: Most of The New York Times’ most popular items last year weren’t news stories.

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.