Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- Twitter erupted yesterday when Vassy Kapelos (who now works for Global National in Ottawa) posted a screenshot of a text message conversation she had with Danielle Smith. After asking about ruling out public roles in the future, Smith replied “Piss off Vashy.” Smith later apologized. Clearly Smith was upset after having just lost her nomination race. And we all say things we regret from time to time. She probably should have just ignored Kapelos, and she should have at least spelled her name correctly! I don’t think Kapelos did anything unethical, but based on the reaction it’s obvious that for a lot of people posting a screenshot of a text message conversation feels wrong. More importantly to me, the exchanged added nothing of value to the story. Smith is human, of course she’s going to be upset. And yeah, I know she’s a public figure, but that feels like a pretty flimsy excuse to go after pageviews.
- One other thought on that – if Vassy Kapelos were to send you a text message now, would you reply?
- CBC announced last Thursday that it is cutting another 244 jobs over the next six months, and 37 of those are right here in Alberta. A total of 18 jobs will be cut in Edmonton but specifics won’t be known until April.
- CISN’s afternoon show is no more as they’ve let Clayton Bellamy go and Chelsea Bird is moving to 104.9 Virgin Radio where she’ll host the new morning show with Ian MacKinnon, who joins from SUN FM in Kelowna.
- Head over to Yellowhead Brewery on April 16 for Salute to The Spin Doctor, recognizing Daryl Hooke’s more than 40 years of service in broadcasting!
- From Vintage Edmonton, here’s a look at the news on March 30, 1899.
- The winners of the TELUS STORYHIVE competition will be announced on April 2. You can browse the top 29 finalists from Alberta and BC now. One winner from each province will receive $50,000 in grants and distribution through TELUS Optik TV.
- The Huffington Post Alberta has an Alberta Photographer of the Month feature, and the latest showcases Edmonton photographer Randee Armstrong.
- Here are the latest social media notes from Linda.
- Don’t miss Karen’s Edmonton blog roundup for March 30.
- Canada’s Competition Bureau has approved Postmedia’s proposed acquisition of 173 Sun Media publications. Soon the Journal and the Sun will have the same corporate parent! Here is The Ryan Jespersen Show on the news.
- Bell Media is in trouble after a Globe and Mail story suggested president Kevin Crull intervened in how CTV reported on the CRTC’s recent “pick and pay” decision. Crull has since apologized.
- Nielsen has said it will begin offering data on viewing by Netflix and Amazon Prime subscribers by the middle of the year. It doesn’t sound like Netflix or Amazon are willingly providing the data, so we’ll see how accurate this is.
- Here’s a CNN Money interview with pioneering blogger Andrew Sullivan. “The truth is, I had to stop primarily because it was killing me,” he said.
Global Edmonton’s Quinn Ohler & Nancy Carlson were among the local media who walked at Western Canada Fashion Week
Metro has an updated look
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 
RE: Vassy’s text screenshot… What’s the difference if Danielle Smith said “piss off” over the phone/via e-mail/on camera as opposed to a text message? Smith knew Kapelos was contacting her as a reporter for Global News. It wasn’t in the context of them being BFFs planning a Sunday brunch.
Also, Smith should be savvy enough to know that either a “no comment” or “off the record” would have been enough for Vassy, or any other reporter, to back off. If Vassy Kapelos would have blurted out something a source told her was “off the record”, no source would ever talk to her again.
I suppose the main difference is that if it were on the phone, it would have been much more difficult to post online. I would bet that on camera she wouldn’t have said anything like that. Email? Who knows!