Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• Alberta Views magazine is celebrating 20 years of publication. “I had hoped that we would put it on a strong foundation and it would last the way Harper’s has lasted,” founding editor Jackie Flanagan told CBC.
• Jeff Samsonow noticed a recent Paula Simons column appeared on the Edmonton Sun website, which Postmedia said was a tagging or posting error.
• J’lyn Nye and Andrew Grose are celebrating three years of the Afternoon News on 630 CHED.
• The 19th annual Corus Radiothon in support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation takes place on January 17 and 18.
• Here is the latest Alberta Podcast Network roundup. The network is now up to 30 podcasts and 3 sponsors.
• Global Edmonton did a feature on the Alberta Podcast Network and Karen’s upcoming workshop on how to create a podcast.
• The latest episode of The Sound Off Podcast with Matt Cundill features CISN Country 103.9’s Chris Scheetz, “who was recently named one of the On-Air Personalities Of The Year (Large Market) at the 2017 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards.”
• Adam Rozenhart and Jason Bossert are the newest members of the CKUA Radio board of directors – congrats!
• CBC Edmonton’s Mark Connolly is hosting “Risk-Takers and Money-Makers; Edmonton Entrepreneurs” at The King’s University on January 18. The event will be taped for Edmonton AM, and also features Margot Ross-Graham, Edmonton AM’s workplace columnist.
• Humans of Edmonton Experience is a Facebook page that aims to “feature real people with real stories that are raw, honest and inspiring by photographing, interviewing and sharing their personal experiences with care, compassion and acceptance.” CBC interviewed some of the folks behind the page, and found lived experience is what sets it “apart from other media when they talk to vulnerable people in Edmonton.”
• From Fish Griwkowsky, here’s a chat with filmmaker Josh Miller, the first CEO of the new Edmonton Screen Industries Office. “Absorb the organization’s name to sense its new mandate beyond TV and film into the digital future.”
• Attention photographers and Instagrammers: Edmonton Tourism is hosting the #ExploreEdmonton Instameet on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Jespersen hosted the 2018 EEDC Impact Luncheon, photo by EEDC

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• Corus Radio is launching a new late-night national talk show called The Shift with Drex. Hosted by Justin “Drex” Wilcomes, the show launches January 22.
• According to new research from NPR and Edison Research, one in six Americans now own a smart speaker. “30 percent of smart speaker owner said the device is replacing time spent with TV. They’re also listening to more audio (71% are), including news and talk radio or podcasts.”
• After Trump described a bunch of countries as “shithole” countries, media organizations had to decide whether to use the word or not. “What mattered much more was what Trump’s words really meant, and what the responsibilities of journalists were in conveying that meaning in some sensible way,” wrote Margaret Sullivan.
• The Guardian has redesigned its website and apps “for our global readership online – to create a beautiful new design that works for readers across mobile, apps and desktop.” Looks good!

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• CBC Edmonton’s Zoë Todd is now “covering the peace region from Grande Prairie”. Pretty neat looking newsroom!
• Jason Gregor reports that this year’s Month of Giving raised $102,625. “We helped out The Christmas Bureau, The Holiday Hamper, Brightfield elementary breakfast program, Alzheimers Foundation, Adopt-A-Teen, The MS Society, Operation Friendship Senior Society and Santas Anonymous.” And later in the post: “Thank you again and while the Oilers’ record is frustrating you right now, remember that helping others will make you feel better.”
• Pretty cool that SONiC 102.9’s Lauren Hunter turned her #ConnorMcPortrait into a $26,757 donation to YESS.
• Marty Forbes reportsthat broadcaster Tony Biamonte passed away just before Christmas at age 93. “Career milestones on-air at CKUA, CFRN and as an instructor in Radio and TV Arts at NAIT were surpassed only by his love and dedication to his family.”
• Cam Tait wrote about the recent passing of Vern Traill at age 92. He managed 630 CHED in the 80s.
• “Odds are that even if you’ve never heard the name Alan Bleviss before, you’ve heard his voice — a warm, golden rumble — selling you something, telling you how to vote, or letting you know what was coming soon to a theatre near you.” The Edmonton-born actor died just after Christmas at age 76.
• Congratulations to 630 CHED’s Dave Campbell on the birth of his daughter Addison!
• TSN 1260’s Dustin Nielson is hosting the launch party for the World’s Longest Hockey Game on January 20. All the proceeds go to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
• Episode 81 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features Kat Griffiths, “a fangirl of the highest order who shines a light on the artists who make the songs she loves with a podcast called Start the Music.”
• Here is the latest Alberta Podcast Network Roundup. “You’ll get the story behind the explosion of marketing tech, and an amazing deep dive into rebranding, plus football talk, game recommendations and music nerdery.”
• Looking to start a podcast of your own this year? Karen Unland is hosting a four hour workshop on how to start a podcast at CKUA on January 27. Tickets are $99.
• Who doesn’t love a good photo booth!
• Here’s a look back at what we published in 2017 over at Taproot Edmonton.
• Here is the Journal’s year in review section for 2017. It includes Larry Wong’s top photos and editor-in-chief Mark Iype’s unforgettable moment.
• Edmonton Quotient also put together a year-in-review complete with many links to roundups from the local media.
• Postmedia is seeking applications for its summer 2018 internship program. “These paid internships run from mid-May to early September for a total of 16 weeks.”
• CBC Edmonton is looking for a weekend producer and a web writer.

Mayor Don Iveson and Premier Rachel Notley on New Year’s Eve, photo by Premier of Alberta

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• Jim Shaw, former CEO of Shaw Communications, died on Wednesday at the age of 60. He joined the company in 1982, then “was appointed vice president of operations in 1987, president in 1995 and CEO in 1998.” Edward Rogers, chair of Rogers Communications, said “Jim was a brilliant man and a fierce competitor.”
• NAIT graduate Lee Jones has been named the new co-anchor of CTV News at Six in Regina!
• Bloomberg Media and Bell Media have partnered to create a new Canadian business news service called BNN Bloomberg that will launch this spring. Bloomberg has five bureaus in Canada, with Calgary the closest to us.
• So much interesting stuff going on right now with Michael Wolff’s “explosive new book that questions President Donald Trump’s fitness for office”.
• From Nieman Lab: A year in fake news, and what to look forward to (or how to tune out) in 2018.

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

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!

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• The fall radio ratings are out (here are the demographic breakdowns) and show 630 CHED ahead of 102.3 Now! FM. Here is more on the numbers from kowchmedia.
• From Mike Ross over at Gig City: “The rules of the ‘Find Any Good Song on the Radio’ game are simple: Start at the bottom of the dial and work your way up until you find a good song. If you fail, you have to listen to CBC until you figure out what they’re talking about before you can try again.”
• In his latest column in the Sun, Marty Forbes remembers Chuck Chandler and Fil Fraser. “If I listed all their accomplishments in this column I’d need the full Page 6 and likely half of Page 7, too.”
• Liane Faulder wrote The Journal’s latest Life & Times feature on Fil Fraser. “Fraser will be remembered at a public memorial to be held in early 2018.”
• ICYMI we wrote about membership-based journalism in the Taproot newsletter recently.
• Back in the fall, CTV Edmonton’s Bill Fortier travelled to Turkey to offer training for new Syrian media outlets in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights. “We are attempting to help Syrian journalists improve their broadcast news writing, empowering them to tell the human rights stories affecting their war-torn home country.” You can read his archived blog entries here.
• Congratulations to Full Circle Visuals (started by Ryan Jackso+n) on partnering with the Shaw Conference Centre to provide “a fully immersive 360 tour of Edmonton’s premier convention centre utilizing virtual reality technology.”
• Karen and her daughter attended PodCon in Seattle and also published the second episode of their new podcast, That’s A Thing?!.
• 630 CHED Santas Anonymous brought in a record-breaking $35,950 during its 24th annual on-air auction.
• CBC Edmonton’s 22nd annual Turkey Drive starts on Thursday and runs until December 21. “Help us reach our goal of $500,000 in support of Edmonton’s Food Bank.”
• The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton has launched Grandin Media, “a new online media outlet” that “aims to tell the stories of Catholic life in Alberta and also to apply the lens of faith in its coverage of issues that matter in the wider community.” Andrew Ehrkamp is the site’s News Editor.
• “Before fun was outlawed in newsrooms, the @Edmononsun staff compiled a list of celebrities we (sort of) resembled,” tweeted Chad Huculak. “Many ppl pictured no longer work in journalism,” he added.
• Times New Roman and Arial don’t mix! Or do they?

Remembering victims of gender-based violence, photo by Premier of Alberta

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• Here’s a story on Calgary’s The Sprawl from Tim Querengesser in CityLab.
• From The Conversation: Instead of mourning local news, try paying for it. “There’s a significant disconnect between the value Canadians say they place on local news and their willingness to actually pay for it.”
• Netflix received 9 Golden Globe nominations, the most it has ever received. HBO led with 12, while Amazon and Hulu both received 3 each.
• A group of former Gawker employees have launched a Kickstarter campaign that aims to raise $500,000 before January 8 to buy the site back and relaunch it.
• Apple has confirmed it is acquiring Shazam for around $400 million.

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• Postmedia and Torstar agreed to swap 37 community newspapers and 4 free commuter papers, many of which were promptly shut down resulting in the loss of at least 290 jobs. While this mostly affected papers in Ontario, former Metro Edmonton reporter Ryan Tumilty was among those let go. “This always happens for the worst reasons,” he tweeted about trending on Twitter in Ottawa after the news broke. Terrible news!
• Ken Regan, long-time CEO at CKUA, wrote a wonderful letter to the staff to celebrate the station’s 90th birthday.
• CBC Edmonton hsa launched a new website design in beta. The new site is responsive but also feels much more sparse.
• Edmonton Quotient’s Jeff Samsonow wrote recently about “bothsideism”. “I’m a believer in the journalism adage to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, and we sure don’t do that when we give everyone equal time.”
• Playwright Darrin Hagen and author Michael Hingston are the Edmonton Public Library’s 2018 writers-in-residence.
• CBC Edmonton is looking for a full-time Video Producer. The successful candidate is “a skilled visual storyteller.”
• Jordan Eberle told Sportsnet, “the Edmonton media can be pretty brutal and your confidence goes and this is a game you can’t play if you don’t have confidence.” OilersNation’s baggedmilk wrote about the interview, noting “dude gets paid a shit tonne of money to play hockey so criticism kinda comes with the territory, no?” Well today, fellow former Oiler Taylor Hall backed Eberle up. “I think that if the media in Edmonton think that they don’t impact players, just a little bit, then they’re crazy.” Once again, baggedmilk: “Let’s not pretend that the Edmonton media is any more critical than what you’d get in Toronto or Montreal.”

92.5 Fresh FM in Santa’s Parade of Lights

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• Pop-up journalism site The Sprawl has re-launched down in Calgary to focus on the municipal budget.
• The Guardian’s membership program has grown significantly in the last year, to the point that “financial support from readers had officially surpassed advertising revenue”.
• Meredith Corp., which owns Allrecipes, is buying Time Inc. for $1.85 billion in cash, “a significant bet on the future of the magazine industry.” The company has received financial backing from the Koch brothers to make the deal happen though their investment is being described as “passive”.
• The Washington Post has published off-the-record comments from a woman who falsely claimed that she was impregnated as a teenager by Roy Moore. “We always honor ‘off-the-record’ agreements when they’re entered into in good faith,” said Martin Baron, The Post’s executive editor. “But this so-called off-the-record conversation was the essence of a scheme to deceive and embarrass us…Because of our customary journalistic rigor, we weren’t fooled, and we can’t honor an ‘off-the-record’ agreement that was solicited in maliciously bad faith.”
• Founder David Karp has announced he is resigning from Tumblr. “I beg you to understand that my decision comes after months of reflection on my personal ambitions, and at no cost to my hopefulness for Tumblr’s future or the impact I know it can have.”

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• CKUA is celebrating 90 years on the air – it’s first air date was November 21, 1927. “After starting as a University of Alberta extension service for farmers, CKUA now has 16 FM transmitters from Fort McMurray to Lethbridge, with 250,000 weekly listeners.” The Faculty of Extension is hosting a live CKUA broadcast from the atrium of Enterprise Square from 6am to 12pm on Tuesday.
• Bell Media is laying off employees at radio and TV stations across the country. An estimated 50 jobs are being eliminated in this latest round of cuts. Here in Edmonton, TSN 1260’s Wil Fraser appears to be a casualty of the cuts. He used to co-host the morning show with Dustin Nielson. “All the best…started together in 2002” tweeted Jason Gregor.
• Peter Weissbach, former on-air host and program director at CJCA Edmonton, passed away from cancer on November 11. “The launch of 630 CHED as a news/talk format and the signing off of CJCA coincided under his watch,” tweeted Scott Johnston.
• From Vintage Edmonton: CJCA Fabulous 40 Survey from November 14, 1965.
• CBC Edmonton’s Rod Kurtz, host of Radio Active, lost a bet with CBC Calgary’s Doug Dirks and had to sing the Calgary Stampeders’ fight son on-air.
• The Alberta Podcast Network has launched a new roundup “of what the members and affiliates of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB, have been putting into the world lately.”
• Elise Stolte and David Staples are launching “a city/urban related podcast” and they’re looking for a name for it.
• Episode 78 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features Meredith Bratland, “a writer and traveller who has turned her curiosity about people from elsewhere into a podcast called Migration Patterns.”
• Chad Huculak reminds us that it has been two years since the Edmonton Sun moved from its old building.
• The National Film Board of Canada is looking for a Producer for the NFB North West Studio here in Edmonton. The deadline to apply is November 24.
• 92.5 Fresh FM flipped over to its all-Christmas format on Saturday.
• Postmedia writers continue the speculation that 630 CHED’s Ryan Jespersen is a potential leadership candidate for the Alberta Party.
• iMEDIA has announced its dates for 2018: the conference will take place at MacEwan on March 9 and 10.

Premier Notley speaks at AAMDC conference, photo by Premier of Alberta

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• In a recent report, the CRTC said “that last year, almost half of Canadians subscribed to some sort of online video service, such as Netflix, CraveTV and others.” And: “Among those between 18 and 34 years old, almost two-thirds subscribe to such a service.”
• They say it started before Jeff Bezos came along, but increasingly the Washington Post is a software company, offering its Arc Publishing system to other publications as a service.
• BuzzFeed writes about podfasters, “a subset of podcast obsessives who listen to upward of 50 episodes a week, by…listening extremely fast.” I like to watch videos and listen to some podcasts at 1.5x, but that’s about my limit. Many of these folks listen at speeds of 2x or higher!

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• Here’s an update from Movember on John Sexsmith. “I haven’t lost my positive attitude,” he says in the video.
• Former Edmonton Journal sports writer Joanne Ireland has a new book on the Edmonton Oilers called 100 Things Oilers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. She was interviewed by Global Edmonton about it!
• Cam Tait has a recap of Kelly Hrudey’s recent visit to Audrey’s Books here in Edmonton to discuss his new book Calling the Shots.
• Here is Chris Scheetz, Matt DeBeurs, Jacqueline Sweeney, Quinn Ohler, and Kent Morrison representing Corus at the rodeo. Great photo!
• CBC Edmonton is looking for a Producer to join its Radio Current Affairs team here in Edmonton.
• Congrats to Linda Hoang and Tyler Jack Butler on the one year anniversary of their podcast, Don’t Call Me a Guru.
• The Alberta Podcast Network is now up to 21 members with the addition of 5 more podcasts.
• Here’s a feature on how the City of Edmonton is using podcasts for recruitment. “Deputy city managers and city councillors have all recorded podcasts to help recruit top talent.”
• Buried in the middle of Don Braid’s column about the strange resignation of Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark, there’s this: “Thus began a movement to join the Alberta Party, build it, and — for some — find somebody fresh and new to lead it. One person often mentioned is Ryan Jespersen, the host of a popular talk-radio show with 630 CHED in Edmonton.”
• Two years ago, 92.5 Fresh FM and 96.3 Capital FM both switched to Christmas music on the same day, November 13. Last year, Fresh FM got the jump making the switch on November 12. This year, it’s Capital FM that made the switch early, going all-Christmas-all-the-time on November 7! Fresh FM has teased its own change is coming “very soon”.
• The Shaw Fire Log, another media staple at this time of year, should be back by the end of the month. Apparently it is “the most watched channel over December” beating even the Weather network.
• The Christmas Bureau is launching its 2017 campaign on Tuesday with the annual Gingerbread House Decorating Challenge, “a long-standing tradition with the Edmonton charity’s media partners.” This year the Christmas Bureau will be providing assistance to over 60,000 Edmontonians.

Service of Remembrance at the Alberta Legislature, photo by Premier of Alberta

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• Twitter has expanded the character limit for tweets to 280 characters.
• From the Membership Puzzle Project: Why supporters pay for journalism (hint: it’s not about exclusive access).
• Amazon has given a new “Lord of the Rings” TV series a multi-season production commitment. Amazon is apparently also developing a freemium version of Prime Video.
• Ugh. Hannity Fans Destroy Keurig Coffee Makers After Company Pulls Advertising: “It was the second time this year that Mr. Hannity has faced the threat of an advertiser exodus of the type that helped cement Bill O’Reilly’s exit from Fox News. But this time, Mr. Hannity’s online supporters fought back in numbers against the advertisers — even, in some cases, destroying their coffee makers.”

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• Jana Pruden wrote about Ruth Kelly and Venture Publishing at the Globe and Mail in a piece called The death of Wonder Woman. “Ruth’s steadfast belief that she could somehow power through it, that the business could still turn around and recover, had become unhealthy; her optimism not an asset but a trap, like a gambler desperately trying to make back money already lost.”
• This year’s edition of the ATCO Edmonton Sun Christmas Charity Auction raised $102,333.25. Nice work!
• CJSR 88.5 FM raised $107,863.52 in the latest FunDrive that wrapped up on Sunday, beating the goal of $105,000.
• Episode 77 of the Seen and Heard in Edmonton podcast features musician Doug Hoyer who was a guest at the October edition of the Edmonton Podcasting Meetup.
• Ryan Jespersen and Carrie Doll are two of the Edmontonians who will be selecting the top ten Edmonton Project ideas.
• Global Edmonton has created a 2018 charity calendar called Global News Hounds, with proceeds going to Give Me Shelter in support of Edmonton’s Women’s Shelters. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of the calendar.
• Congratulations to CTV Edmonton’s Carla Turner who has started her maternity leave.
• CBC Edmonton is looking for a TV News Producer and a Weekend Producer. Both are full-time positions.
• The Pembina Institute is looking for a Communications Lead here in Edmonton. The deadline to apply is November 15.
• This Twitter exchange between Mark Spector and David Staples made me chuckle. The comments from everyone else are great too.

Premier Rachel Notley participates in the 4th annual radiothon held by RedFM in Calgary, photo by Premier of Alberta

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• Linda updated her social media frame Halloween costume again this year, this time paying tribute to Vine.
• From AudienceInsights, here’s The Canadian Podcast Listener – a Landscape Study. The survey found that “nearly 10 million Canadian adults have listened to podcasts in the past year.”
• CBC’s revamped The National debuted tonight. Here’s a look behind-the-scenes.
• Big news today: 21st Century Fox has been holding talks to sell most of the company to Disney! My first thought? X-Men and Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Of course the deal, which is apparently no longer on the table, would really be about Disney gearing up to better compete with Netflix and Amazon.
• Slate has a nice feature on breaking news push alerts from the New York Times and Washington Post since Trump was elected. “Something happened to the news this year. It wasn’t only Trump. It was the convergence of Trump and technology and the media landscape, with the invigorated news giants and hungry digital outlets duking it out for our bloodshot eyeballs.”

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.

Here’s my latest update on local media stuff:

• The Edmonton Sun has launched a new website design and a new mobile app. Unfortunately, it looks like the new site has broken all existing permalinks. Er, links. For instance, I wanted to link to this story by Jonny Wakefield about a widely-used photo of fentanyl pills, but it doesn’t work (here’s the Bing cache). This is basic, web 101 stuff!
• CTV Edmonton’s Daryl McIntyre marked 31 years at CFRN last week and recently welcomed Erin Isfeld as his new permanent co-host (congrats!). CTV Edmonton also has a new set design.
• Peter North has left CKUA after 17 years. But he didn’t leave to “move on to other projects” as CKUA’s statement read, he quit. Gig City has the scoop.
• Here is Terry Jones on 50 years at the Sun and Journal. “I’m a big believer in the adage that ‘He who collects the most memories wins.’” And here’s a feature on Terry Jones in the Toronto Sun.
• After seven seasons, CBC has cancelled Edmonton-made ‘The Irrelevant Show’. “Seven years is a good run for any program. But CBC cancelled the show so abruptly, the cast didn’t even get a chance to do a goodbye finale show.”
• The local TV stations didn’t cover the election on TV, except for an hour on CTV Edmonton (and hour that was largely done before the results started to trickle out). Grant Ainsley argues the reason is money.
• CISN Country 103.9 FM’s Matt DeBeurs was among the “jailbirds” that helped to raise money for Crime Stoppers at a fundraiser at Southgate Centre recently.
• The 67th edition of the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers convention takes place at the Delta Edmonton South from November 5-7.
• Kelsey Campbell, who previously filled in on the CISN Country 103.9 FM morning show, is going to be on air ever Saturday and Sunday evening from 6pm to midnight.
• Two new reality TV shows are looking for real estate stars in Edmonton. The shows will air in spring 2019.
• The Pembina Institute is looking for a Communications Lead here in Edmonton. The deadline to apply is November 15.
• There’s a new local publication called the Indo Canadian Post in Punjabi.
• Congratulations to the Edmonton Journal’s Press Gallery Podcast on achieving the milestone of 200 episodes!
• Be sure to check out Episode 1 of That’s A Thing?!, a new podcast from Karen and her daughter Elizabeth. I absolutely love this idea!
• CKUA has raised more than $587,605 in its fall fundraising campaign. You can still donate online here.
• The ATCO Edmonton Sun Christmas Charity Auction starts tomorrow and runs through Thursday!

Premier Rachel Notley addresses her caucus on the first day of the fall session, photo by Premier of Alberta

And here is some slightly less local media stuff:

• From J-Source: Here’s what you need to know about Canada’s new shield law for confidential sources.
• Toronto-based writer Mathew Ingram is joining the Columbia Journalism Review! He’s going to be the chief digital writer, focusing on Facebook, Google, and other tech companies.
• Blockchain technology seems to be everywhere these days, so why not journalism? Civil is a “cryptocurrency-based journalism marketplace that went public this summer” that has now raised $5 million and has attracted its first publication.
• Lots of Russia-related news today with the indictment of Paul Manafort and now Facebook is expected to tell congressional investigators that “roughly 126 million users in the United States may have seen posts, stories or other content created by Russian government-backed trolls around Election Day.”

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.

You can see past Media Monday Edmonton entries here.