Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- Felix “Fil” Fraser, who came to Edmonton in the 1970s to work at CBC TV, died Sunday at the age of 86. Among other accolades, Fraser was inducted into the Order of Canada in 1991.
- Chuck Chandler, who worked in Edmonton at various times from the 1960s until his retirement in 2008 at CJCA, CHED, CFRN, and others, died of cancer last week at the age of 73. “RIP one of #yegmedia’s most colourful figures,” tweeted Marty Forbes.
- “Twitter and the Internet help to take down community newspapers,” reads a recent Edmonton Journal tweet featuring a Malcolm Mayes cartoon. I generally love his stuff but this…hahahahahaha! No.
- CJSR is “currently experiencing serious technical issues with our transmitter” and is looking for donations to help with the repairs. In the meantime you can listen live at cjsr.streamon.fm.
- Here’s an I Heart Edmonton feature on morning radio. “Despite the fact that he was raised in Calgary, Jespersen is that voice of reason on the radio, and someone who refuses to be anyone other than himself,” wrote Emil about 630 CHED’s Ryan Jespersen.
- Congratulations to Ryan Jespersen on being named “Best Radio Talk Show in Edmonton” in the Edmonton Journal’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. As far as I can tell they don’t actually publish the winners online, just in print, but there are digital pages available on Facebook. Probably because they can’t get the winners’ ads to appear properly on the website or something.
- CBC was caught citing a FOIP request made by Postmedia without attribution (they later updated the story).
- I was really happy to talk about Taproot Edmonton at Homestead Coworking last week! Thanks for having me!
- The Alberta Podcast Network has grown to 28 member podcasts. “Our new additions cover education, customer experience, dance and performance, history, geekery, food and wine, and walkability — eclectic as heck!”
- Episode 79 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features Josh Shenfield and Alan Techsmith, “two prolific nerds who talk about video games, movies, TV, comics and ‘more geekery than you can shake a joystick at’ on Press Start to Join.”
- Congratulations to Global’s Laurel Gregory and Christine Meadows, “recognized for Thinking Beyond for the creation of #GlobalNews #FamilyMatters.” Rhonda Halarewich tweeted a photo of the pair on stage at the Corus Awards.
- Virgin Radio’s Chelsea Bird and CTV’s Josh Classen hosted the fashion show at this year’s Festival of Trees over the weekend.
- CBC Edmonton’s recent clothing drive was a big success, with more than 3,000 warm winter clothing items donated. “The clothes will be shared with various agencies that work with the homeless.”
- A new short story dispensing machine has been installed at the Edmonton International Airport. It’ll feature stories from local writers including Jana Pruden, Steven Sandor, and Matthew Stepanic.
Premier Notley addresses AUMA convention on November 23, photo by Premier of Alberta
And here is some slightly less local media stuff:
- From Jesse Brown on this Toronto Star opinion piece: “Two days after killing 13 newspapers, TorStar runs this piece blaming it on government’s failure to bail-out newspapers, written by the chair of News Media Canada. Doesn’t disclose that they are a member of News Media Canada.”
- In the late night TV wars, Stephen Colbert is winning. “His program, ‘The Late Show’ on CBS, has taken viewers away from Jimmy Fallon, the cheerful host of NBC’s storied franchise, who has lost 21 percent of his audience year over year since the fall season began on Sept. 25.”
- From Mother Jones: Journalism Is Imploding Just When We Need It Most.
- Discovery is taking majority control of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) after it purchased 24.5% of the company from Harpo Inc. for $70 million. Oprah will continue as CEO and has extended her contract through 2025.
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!
Want to read great stories about Edmonton? Or maybe you’d like to write them? Join Taproot Edmonton and help us ensure that local journalism has a future in our city.
MasterMaq's Blog 