Media Monday Edmonton: Update #180

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• Omar Mouallem is winding down his popular Footnotes column with Metro after three years. He plans to “give more attention to my magazine freelancing and another personal project” instead. Editor Tim Querengesser says the paper is “rolling out new voices in January.”
• The Ryan Jespersen Show picked up a 2016 Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Radio Talk Show in Edmonton”. I was honoured to be named Best Social Media Personality. Thanks Edmonton! Edmonton AM, CBC Edmonton, Stacey Brotzel, Gord Steinke, Kevin Karius, Global Edmonton, and Josh Classen also picked up awards. Congrats!
• 630 CHED has introduced a new website! It’s very sparse looking (and very Canadian red and white), but it’s responsive and much easier to read now that articles use a decent font and size. An improvement!
• CBC Edmonton has setup a temporary digital wall at Southgate where you can check out the news and social media feeds.
• It looks like Tamara will be organizing another Meet the Media event. Watch for it in 2016.
• Another week, another Kim Wynn video! In this one she raps the EPS winter driving post that was so popular recently.
• The Journal is seeking applications for its summer 2016 internship program which runs from mid-May to early September. The deadline to apply is December 9.
• The Yards is celebrating its first anniversary with the inaugural Best in the Core Awards. The awards will be in the winter edition which launches on Thursday.
• MacEwan University is looking for an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2016.
• If you were hoping to hear CBC Edmonton’s Mark Connolly sing “Hello” by Adele, you’ll be disappointed to hear that it won’t be happening now that the Eskimos won the Grey Cup! “I have no problem making this bet because I know I’ll never have to do this,” said Connolly as he agreed to the terms of the bet.
• From Vickie, here are five reasons you should go fulltime as a blogger. I think #5 is pretty critical!
• Former APTN reporter Kenneth T. Williams spoke to the Journal about his latest play now on at the ATB Financial Arts Barns called Café Daughter.
• Here is Karen’s latest Edmonton blog roundup and podcast roundup. The latest episode of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features Lillian Tse, also known as Beyond Umami.
• Happy Birthday Dave!
• There are no stats mentioned to back this up, but the Examiner says Sherwood Park-based photographer Chrysta Rae “may be the most followed female photographer in Canada.”
• In case you missed it, the Shaw Fire Log is back! Check it out on 222 HD, 165 SD, or on the mobile app. I don’t know why but I love the fire log.

Media categories for the Journal’s 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• An average of 4.3 million people watched the Grey Cup on TSN on Sunday, an increase of 6% over 2014. The peak was 5.4 million back in 2012 for the 100th Grey Cup.
• Here are Linda’s latest social media notes! Noting the new swipe left/swipe right feature that Vine is introducing, she wrote: “Vine is still relevant guys.” Can’t tell if serious…
• It sounds as though 15 people were let go across the country as part of last week’s NewCap cuts. It’s a bit of a surprise considering the company posted a 57% profit increase in Q3 just a couple of months ago.
• Sharon will be happy to hear this: “about 90% of overall viewing is still live” here in Canada. New services like video on demand are “steadily on the rise” however.
• There’s a new dress meme online. This time it’s not about what color you see, but rather whether or not your meteorologist has worn it!
• I haven’t been following it too closely but it seems the US media are pretty upset with Trump. Because he’s beating them. Jay Rosen attempts to break it all down.

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.