This will be my final media notes entry of 2017 – see you in the new year!
Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- Randy Boissonnault, MP for Edmonton Centre, announced funding of nearly $700,000 “to help launch Radio Cité, a francophone community radio station for the Edmonton area.” The station, at 97.9 FM, was announced back in October and will launch in September 2018. Here’s the news release from Western Economic Diversification Canada.
- 630 CHED’s Ryan Jespersen has made it official: he’s not running to lead the Alberta Party. “A Jespersen leadership bid had been the object of significant speculation,” wrote James Wood in the Calgary Herald. Honestly, it seemed like only Postmedia was making a big deal out of the rumors. Though to be fair, they note Jespersen “acknowledged he had ‘several conversations’ with people in political circles about potentially running for leader.”
- Edmonton Quotient is offering a holiday promotion! “Until January 1, 2018, we’re offering one year of support for $35 – a 30% discount on our standard annual rate.”
- Yukon Jack on Twitter: “Can we get a moratorium on the local news showing the gratuitous clip of Tim Hague dying in the ring?”
- Home delivery of the Journal, Sun, and National Post was delayed on Friday due to the freezing rain. Our paper arrived early as usual!
- I don’t use them, but apparently the Journal has released new apps for iOS and Android. The new versions promise “a faster and smoother reading experience”.
- Here is the latest Alberta Podcast Network Roundup. I like the organization by episode length!
- Episode 80 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features Dan Shessel, “co-host and co-creator of the Northern Nerdcast, a showcase for the geeky, nerdy people, groups and events in and around the Edmonton area.”
- Corus Entertainment’s 980 CKNW in Vancouver had a very similar logo to that of 630 CHED but as of last week it has re-branded to “Global News Radio”. Seems this change is happening across the country as 680 CJOB in Winnipeg, 640 Toronto, 980 CFPL in London, 900 CHML in Hamilton, and 770 CHQR in Calgary have all made the switch. Only a matter of time for Edmonton’s station?
Ice Level Media Centre at Northlands Coliseum, photo by Jason Woodhead
And here is some slightly less local media stuff:
- The FCC on Thursday voted to dismantle the Obama-era net neutrality rules by a 3-2 vote. “Critics of the changes say that consumers will have more difficulty accessing content online and that start-ups will have to pay to reach consumers.”
- Employees of the Prince Albert Daily Herald are buying the paper from Star News Publishing. “This news comes less than a week after the Daily Herald’s owner publicly stated the newspaper would shut down if he did not find a buyer.”
- Disney’s rumored acquisition of 21st Century Fox was made official last week. The $60 billion purchase is all about Netflix and streaming. “The first episode of the Streaming Wars is over. The rebels won. Now the empire strikes back.”
- Storify is shutting down in May 2018. Here is the end-of-life FAQ.
- From Stephen Smith in The Covnersation Canada: The news industry has always needed government support: A look back to the 1800s.
- NiemanLab is collecting predictions for journalism in 2018. A few caught my eye, including “the year of machine-to-machine journalism” and “from algorithms to institutions“.
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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