Congratulations to Moe Banga on winning the Ward 12 by-election this evening! You can see the full unofficial results here. The official results should be released later this week, with the swearing-in ceremony taking place Friday afternoon.
Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- The big story of the week was Rebel Media’s fight with the Government of Alberta.
- Dave posted a summary of what happened.
- The Canadian Association of Journalism took the government to task for its decision. “Albertans should be choosing what coverage of their government they want to read, not seeing government try to choose what coverage is suitable for Albertans,” said CAJ President Nick Taylor-Vaisey.
- Ryan Jespersen spoke to Sheila Gunn Reid and Dave Cournoyer about the issue on Tuesday last week.
- Ultimately the NDP government acknowledged it “made a mistake” and reversed the decision to ban Rebel Media. But as Graham Thomson argues, it’s not over yet. “At play here are bigger issues including, how do we define who is a journalist in the digital age? And, just as important, who gets to make the definition?”
- After 16 years with the Journal, Jodie Sinnema has decided to move on. Her last day is Wednesday, and she starts a new job in public relations on March 1.
- Matt Dykstra has announced he is leaving the Sun and Journal to take on a new role as a press secretary with the Provincial government. “I love journalism and I know I will miss it,” he wrote.
- Bill Mah is back at the Journal on general assignment. “It’s been a roller-coaster month but I’m happy to be a journalist again,” he wrote.
- One other change to note at the Journal/Sun: Elise Stolte is now the city hall reporter. “It’s not a huge change from the more loosely-defined urban affairs beat I held before, but it’s an opportunity to lead our coverage of how this city is run,” she wrote.
- Oh, and oddly enough: “The Edmonton newsroom of Postmedia Network Inc., which publishes the Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun, has an immediate opening for two reporters who will help drive coverage of issues and events in Edmonton and northern Alberta.” I assume they’re looking for cheaper people than the ones that were let go.
- As mentioned last week, Tom Braid is leaving the Edmonton Sun. Now he has been immortalized in cartoon form.
- On Friday, former Journal reporter Jana Pruden and former Journal managing editor Stephanie Coombs joined Ryan Jespersen for the weekly roundtable.
- Janis Galloway has decided to wind down Dress Me Dearly. She has been sharing memories on Instagram, like the first “outfit post” she ever did. “Next week I’ll be posting the final blog post on DMD after seven years reporting on Edmonton’s fashion scene,” she wrote on Friday.
- In his latest column, Marty Forbes interviews Stacey Brotzel about her trip to Nicaragua during which she and her husband donated and built playgrounds for children as part of the Castle Downs Recreational Society. And as he notes, congrats to CTV Edmonton’s Breanna Karstens Smith on winning the November Project’s Positivity Award.
- Are you a podcaster here in Edmonton? Be sure to check out the Seen and Heard Podcast Network. The aim is to increase audiences and generate revenue for local podcasts.
- Episode 30 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features David Dodge, the man behind Green Energy Futures.
- Venture Publishing is looking for an Assistant Editor. The deadline to apply is March 15.
- The Yards will launch its first edition of 2016 on March 10 at DECL. “We’ll be chatting about the virtues of small retail spaces, why they are good for business, good for community and good for urban form/vibrancy.”
- Save the date: the next #MeetTheMedia is set for April 15 at The Pint.
Protection measures in place early to prepare for wildfire season, photo by Premier of Alberta
And here is some slightly less local media stuff:
- In her latest social media notes, Linda highlights the iMEDIA Conference which is coming up on March 11 and 12.
- I really like Longform for recommendations on in-depth articles to read. This week while browse I came upon one by Omar Mouallem at Hazlitt. It’s actually the second time he was featured on the site – here’s the first.
- In a speech in Toronto last week, CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais slammed news executives on their local news efforts. “Local television news is failing us. But it need not. The system sits at a position of strength,” he said.
- Here is the new Limited TV package from Shaw, the first “skinny” package as mandated by the CRTC.
- Margaret Sullivan, the public editor of the New York Times, will be joining the Washington Post as a media columnist later this year.
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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