Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- Former Edmonton Journal opinion editor David Evans died last week of pancreatic cancer. “Evans, 68, worked at the Journal for 15 years, arriving as an editorial writer in 1997 and rising to opinion editor before retiring in 2012. In that time, he was twice nominated for a National Newspaper Award.” Paula Simons wrote that she’ll remember Evans as “an editor who never hesitated to take the mickey out of me, who never let me get away with lazy writing or lazy logic, who helped me to clarify my thinking – and who protected me, always, from senior management and my own worser instincts.”
- Newcap is making changes here in Alberta: “Effective immediately, Al Tompson is taking on the newly-created position of Director of FM Programming for Calgary and Edmonton.” Today was John Roberts’ last day as Program Director for Newcap in Edmonton, a position he has held since late 2011. “Effective February 1, Jeff Murray will take on the job of Program Director for K-97 and Assistant Program Director for 96.3 Capital-FM in Edmonton.”
- This piece published at the Edmonton Journal reads like an awards submission that was accidentally made public: “Amplified, plugged in — Elise Stolte’s use of social media is setting a new bar for what it means for a beat reporter to be digitally engaged with the community she covers.” I’m definitely a fan of her approach!
- Speaking of Elise…she shared the news on Facebook Live that Postmedia now has a second reporter at City Hall. Prior to coming to Edmonton in October, Hina Alam was at the Toronto Star.
- Postmedia’s David Staples has taken some heat recently for his column about Jordan Peterson.
- The 19th annual Corus Radiothon raised $1,456,881 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital this year! “Since 2000, the Corus Radiothon has raised more than $20 million for the foundation.”
- Episode 82 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features Elizabeth Spencer, “creator and co-host (with Karen Unland) of That’s a Thing?!, ‘a sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20.'”
- The Cups N Cakes podcast, a local music podcast hosted by Jeff MacCallum and Carey Newton, is celebrating 100 episode in four years. Nice work!
- Paula Simons noted that Postmedia is “experimenting, again, with stand-alone video essays” like this one.
- Here is David Climenhaga on the news that Stephen Mandel is campaigning to lead the Alberta Party: “The prevailing media narrative is that enough of his municipal popularity remains to make him a threat to the NDP government of Rachel Notley in in its Edmonton stronghold.”
- Metro Edmonton is looking for a Reporter/Photographer to join the team. The deadline to apply is February 17.
- CKUA is looking for an Executive Assistant/Office Administrator. The deadline to apply is January 29.
- CBC dug into the archives for this TV-based gem – Jan. 15, 1987: Home shopping channel hits Edmonton TV screens.
Edmonton Deep Freeze Festival, photo by IQRemix
And here is some slightly less local media stuff:
- Rogers Communications has terminated its $100 million joint venture with Vice Media. “Viceland Canada will go off the air on March 31, 2018, Rogers confirmed.” Vice Canada president Ryan Archibald says despite the setback the organization plans to grow and “will be announcing some new exciting partnerships soon.”
- Facebook has essentially admitted that it could be having a negative effect on democracy: “Facebook was originally designed to connect friends and family — and it has excelled at that. But as unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it’s being used in unforeseen ways with societal repercussions that were never anticipated.”
- NiemanLab has a feature on Linda Solomon Wood, founder of National Observer.
- Netflix is going to be adding a new explainer show from Vox Media to its docuseries lineup. I have been enjoying Rotten most recently.
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.
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