Alberta Views wins magazine of the year at National Magazine Awards

The win by Alberta Views magazine as magazine of the year at the National Magazine Awards gala Friday night is well-deserved and though based on its merits, also sends a gratifying message when a small, independent, western magazine comes out on top.

Winning is not some fluke, mind: in 2008, the magazine was named best magazine in Alberta at the Western Magazine Awards and in 2007 it won an Utne independent press award for regional coverage.

(Editor Jackie Flanagan's acceptance speech at the NMAF gala had just the right tone to properly reflect the progressive political edge of her title, which was after all started nine years ago as a counterpoint to the right-wing views of the late Alberta Report magazine and its ilk. AV's existence and its content stimulates public policy debate and celebrates the work of Alberta's writers and artists.)

I imagine a good many people who may not have seen, read (or even heard of) Alberta Views will now check it out and enjoy its feisty charms. Reading it online would be good; subscribing would be even better.

(Complete list of winners)

* * *

Cynthia Brouse's choice for the foundation award for outstanding achievement was a popular one, even among those who have not had the privilege of working with her or being taught by her. I thought Maryam Sanati's introduction expressed the affection and professional respect that many of her colleagues feel.

Cynthia's acceptance speech was humble and generous by parts -- particularly good was where she acknowledged by name the many copy editors and fact checkers who share her passions, going back to the very first recipient of the award, Prue Hemelrijk in 1990. Perhaps the best way any of us can continually honour Cynthia is to champion fact-checking as a vital contribution to what makes good magazines better,whether in print or online.

(Cynthia, who has lost her hair to the latest round of chemotheraphy, apparently had a running wig-or-no-wig debate with herself in the days leading up to the event and wisely chose to suit herself because her wig gives her a headache. Her many friends wish her well in her battle which she, typically, chronicles most days on her blog.)

* * *

Other notes from the Magawards (and the magazines week) that preceded it:

• Despite recession-driven necessity to trim costs (and the ticket prices) and cutting various corners, the Magwards attendance was actually up this year and, despite some good-natured grumbling, few seemed to mind much buying their own drinks.
• Paul Jones's good-natured emceeing kept the evening moving along and, unlike in some previous years, most people stuck it out to the big finish and the hubbub was kept to a minimum.
• Prize for the most indulgent acceptance speech was hands-down won by ex-Walrus art director Antonio de Luca, who through his surrogate and friend Garvia Bailey, thanked everyone (and I mean everyone) at the magazine over the five years he was there.
• Corporate sponsors were fewer and farther between, but the government of Canada, and the Department of Canadian Heritage stepped up to underwrite 8 awards.
  
• MagNet, the industry conference, was extremely successful in terms of attendance; buoyed by the addition of the Canadian Authors Association and the Editors Association of Canada and by aggressive marketing, Magazines Canada was able to boast that the event had 60% increase in registrations over last year. (I haven't yet heard what the Canadian Business Press's attendance was at Magazines University.)
  
• After all the argy-bargy about Jessica Rose's rookie appointment as Toronto Life's art director, it was notable that she won gold for her controversial August 2008 "bullets" cover.
  
• Too much to see and do at MagNet, but I'm glad I heard the off-the-wall trip that was designer Tommy Li from Hong Kong. The designers and art directors in the room were often giddy about his work and his approach. Donna Braggins deserves a lot of credit for luring him here.
  
• Nice to see the effort that Magazines Canada put into honouring the role that voluntarism plays in this industry
• Ian Brown won his 12th gold award in the "short feature" category, one he acidly noted that he has always dreamed of winning. He also corrected Paul Jones's pronunciation of "behemoth" in the headline. (Later, gold medal winner Paul Wells of Maclean's waded into the pronunciation fray.)
  
• Dictionary note: its bi'heemoth.
• The Malahat Review did extremely well, which won two gold and two silver medals.
• The magawards board should be commended for an initiative to have winners create personal profiles in the archive of winning entries.
  

Related stories:

• AlbertaViews blazes trail by taking top prize (Toronto Star)
• The Walrus is golden at magazine awards (Globe and Mail)
• AlbertaViews, Calgary writer win big at National Magazine Awards (CBC.ca)