Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:
- Legendary Edmonton sports announcer Al McCann passed away last Wednesday at the age of 85. He served as sports director for CFRN radio and TV for more than 30 years. Here’s a tribute video from CTV Edmonton as well as their obituary. Cam Tait also remembered Al, sand said “Al was a trusted voice on television.” Rod Phillips, Chris Cuthbert, Daryl McIntyre, Jim Matheson, Al Girard, and Ryan Rishaug were among those who remembered Al on Twitter.
- The latest radio ratings are out for the period covering December 1, 2014 to March 1, 2015. Once again, 102.3 Now Radio is on top, but CBC Radio 1 has closed the gap considerably. Capital FM has improved from fourth to third, swapping spots with 630 CHED.
- Pepper & Dylan are no longer at Virgin Radio. “Thank you to Virgin Radio. It was a great four years and the privilege to be part of the launch of the brand was a very special experience,” they wrote on March 11. In a follow-up (that received more than 2000 likes and nearly 500 comments) the next day Rob Pepper added, “I want everyone to know that there is no bad blood. Sometimes decisions are made to take things in different directions.” There’s speculation this shakeup is a sign of a format change on the horizon for 104.9 FM.
- Over at Gig City, Mike Ross says of all the radio changes: “All major radio personalities know their days are numbered from the moment they take a radio job that puts their personalities on the line. It takes courage.”
- The travel experiment from The Edmonton Journal now has a name: Passport Post. They’ve launched a presence on Facebook. “At Passport Post, you can connect with fellow travellers realtime and see everything the community is talking about.”
- Looks like media thinker and NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen is visiting Alberta to deliver his “How to be Literate in What’s Changing Journalism” session to the Journal and the Herald. What, no Edmonton or Calgary Sun?
- An Edmonton woman accused have of stalking CTV anchor Joel Gotlib and making threats to him and his familly is facing 18 criminal charges after being extradited from Germany.
- Here’s a piece on Matthew Halton, a former CBC correspondent who worked for the Edmonton Bulletin and the Edmonton Journal early in his career and later reported from the front lines of World War II. He got his start at The Gateway, and now his son David has written about Matthew’s career in a new book.
- The Spruce Grove Examiner is looking for a full-time news reporter to join the team. The deadline to apply is April 17.
- The Western Catholic Reporter is also looking for a reporter. I’m not familiar with that publication, but I see it is owned by the Archdiocese of Edmonton and is published weekly.
- The Yards has a new website and a home for the podcast.
- Katherine O’Neill, a former Globe and Mail journalist, has been picked as the PC candidate in Edmonton-Meadowlark. The race was marked with allegations of bribery, though O’Neill denied any knowledge or involvement.
- If you’re a Shaw customer, note that Speed will be removed from the TV lineup on April 1.
- From the St. Albert Gazette: “The nominations for the 2014 Yeggies are in, and it should come as no surprise to St. Albert residents that this city is well represented.”
- Here is Karen’s latest roundup of local blog posts! Always lots of great stuff to read.
- In her latest social media notes, Linda notes that Twitter is working to step up its live TV game.
- Did you miss iMEDIA on the weekend? Here’s a recap from Adster’s Ellie McFarlane.
- Big changes from the CRTC: they’re reducing the number of hours each day that Canadian programs must be broadcast on television, otherwise known as the Can-on quotas. Local stations still need to keep half of their prime-time lineups Canadian though.
- Tony Haile is the CEO of Chartbeat, one of the companies blamed for causing media orgs to focus on clicks in the first place. Now he wants to reorient the industry to a new metric: attention.
Another cool photo of Red Bull Crashed Ice, courtesy of retired CTV cameraman Al Girard
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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