Here is my latest update on local media stuff:
- Sun Media parent Quebecor announced today that it will be raising money for disaster relief in both Alberta and Quebec, and is getting the campaign started with a contribution of $100,000.
- Congratulations to all the winners of the Western Magazine Awards! Eighteen Bridges was named Magazine of the Year for Alberta/NWT, and won a number of other awards too, including Best Article and the Written Award for Arts, Culture, and Entertainment.
- Former columnist Todd Babiak and CBC Edmonton journalist Charles Rusnell are two of Alberta Venture’s 50 Most Influential People for 2013.
- You’ve probably heard that Dave Rutherford, who was planning to retire his show later this month, was kicked off the airwaves a couple weeks ago after he ranted on-air about the lack of coverage his station had given the floods in southern Alberta (here’s the audio and a transcript of his rant). Today the Herald reported that Rutherford will be replaced by Roger Kingkade of X929 and Erin Kelly, who has worked at MTV. The younger duo take over the 9am show beginning August 19. No word on whether Edmonton will get the new show (Rutherford’s was simulcast on 630 CHED). There’s more on PSR.
- Did you know that Bob Layton is a ventriloquist? Or that Morgan Smith has an alter-ego named Travesty Tryst? Or that Alex Hindmarch is a ring announcer for Maximum Fighting Championship? This is a fascinating look at the second careers of local radio personalities.
- Happy second birthday to Inglorious Hipsters! Check out the comic/podcast if you haven’t already.
- Was it satire or a slam? Who cares! It’s a fairly even split in this CBC Edmonton poll on the National Post column that Mayor Mandel took offense to. In case you missed it, I wrote about the Machete Something Edmonton debacle here. Media folks here and elsewhere were quick to point out the inappropriateness of Mandel’s comments; he suggested that the City should pull advertising from Postmedia and that they shouldn’t be allowed to print. Maybe we all just need a thicker skin.
- Marty Forbes offers some thoughts (at the end of his column) on former journalists Scott McKeen and Kerry Diotte, both of whom are running for office in the upcoming municipal election. “Both gents have an innate knowledge of the city and its ongoing ‘concerns’ and it comes from sitting through long council sessions for the past several years. It’s in this manner that they both have a very good handle on what’s needed in this ever expanding city of ours.”
- Kerry Diotte has had to deal with some fallout from one of his old columns in which he suggested that cyclists be banned from city streets. He says his views have since changed.
- The Wanderer Online has launched a new project called Edmonton’s Top 100 Women in Business. It aims to “showcase our city’s strongest female business professionals whose work, in their respective sectors, is making this city stronger, setting an example and raising the bar for all other professionals both established in and new to business roles in this city.” The deadline to nominate someone is August 15.
- From Ian Gray in the Journal: “In the fight for the hearts, minds and especially the votes of Albertans, social media has become the new battle grounds of ideas, and Twitter is the new front line.” I think that was made pretty clear during last year’s provincial election. Does it follow that the “mainstream media” will no longer be as influential or important for political candidates? Not necessarily. We’ve seen how traditionally-trained journalists have effectively used social media tools, for instance. There’s room for both, and there’ll be a lot of crossover.
- Known to Calgarians as the voice of the Stampeders, Bill Powers and his wife were found dead in their home by police. Powers got his start in journalism as a general reporter for the Edmonton Journal.
- Scope Printing & Publishing is looking for a reporter/photographer to join its team in Edmonton.
- The CRTC approved Bell’s takeover of Astral Media a couple weeks ago.
- Just a quick reminder that Graham Hicks and I are still doing our Mack & Cheese podcast – check it out, we try to post a new episode each week!
Just Another Morning. Photo by Ian McKenzie.
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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