Cottage Life contest lets readers colour-their-own cover

Tapping into the current interest (craze?) for adult colouring books, Cottage Life magazine has created a contest the involves a colour-it-yourself cover contest. The tear-out page in the early summer 2016 issue (The Family Issue) is printed on uncoated paper stock. The contest is sponsored by advertiser Beaver Homes and Cottages. This is not the first contest idea for the magazine, but definitely its first colouring book. We imagine that their devoted readership will be able to stay within the lines.  

“Our early summer Family Issue is a great fit for this innovative, on-trend offering for our iconic print magazine,” said Michelle Kelly, Editor, Cottage Life magazine in a release. “Adult colouring books have become a phenomenon, attracting people of all ages looking to unplug from their day-to-day and what better place than the cottage to sit with your family and friends and engage in this relaxing and meditative activity.”

Readers of the print magazine will be encouraged to share their final creations on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #CottageLifeColours. A Cottage Life-led judging panel will select the best entry and will award the winner with a set of candles from Cottage Life’s own branded merchandise line-up, the Weekend Collection, available now at select retailers. The contest runs until July 18.

Mag world view: Artnews takeover; Whalebone profit; "best of internet" mag; Robb Report launches in UK

• Brant Publications Takes Control of Artnews Assets and Titles (Folio:)
• A Profitable First Year for Montauk's Whalebone Magazine (FishbowlNY)
• London Magazine Swipe Repackages 'Best of the Internet' (Adweek)
• Eric Danetz Wants to Help Time Inc. Take Over the World (Folio:)
• Digital giants tighten their grip on top media owner ranking (FIPP)
• Suddenly, national newspapers are heading for that print cliff fall (Guardian)
• Robb Report editor on UK launch (Magworld) 
• Grazia UK editor on Facebook Live experiment (Magworld)

The lowercasing of "internet" proceeds apace

The New York Times is following the lead of the Associated Press and decided to lowercase the word "internet". 

“One of our guidelines is prevailing usage — it’s not always to be out on a limb,” said Jill Taylor, editor of the Times’ copy desks. “Now that AP has changed and all of their client newspapers are going to be following that same style, it’s a little more seamless.”

Canadian Press style remains to cap Internet...at least for now.

Magazines Canada announces regional volunteers of the year

Magazines Canada has announced the 2015 Volunteer of the Year awards, which are to be presented during the MagNet: Canada's Magazine Conference at the association's annual reception on Thursday, June 9 at the Courtyard Toronto Downtown, 475 Yonge Street.

As had been previously reported, Chris Purcell, the vice-president of marketing and circulation and general manager Toronto for TVA Publications has been named Magazines Canada over all volunteer of the year. The regional volunteers of the year are:

Magazine Association of BC Volunteer of the Year Jane Hope got her start in publishing 10 years ago at Vallum in Montreal. Since then, she's made stops at the MPub program at Simon Fraser University, UBC Press and Modern Dog magazine. Today, she's Senior Editor at ECHO Storytelling Agency, where they solve business problems with publishing solutions—which yes, means magazines.

Alberta Magazine Publishers Association Volunteer of the Year Brnesh Berhe is a passionate human rights advocate who saw an opportunity to raise greater awareness and initiate change with the power of storytelling, launching Markermagazine. Brnesh self-published the independent publication from her home in Edmonton, while juggling a full-time job and a side gig as a freelancer. She wore many hats at the magazine—editor, art director, publisher, sales associate to provide a niche outlet for writers to write and report on a range of issues, from music and the arts to racial and sexual inequality.

Magazines Ontario Volunteer of the Year Patricia Clarke began her career in journalism more than half a century ago as a Hollywood reporter for United Press International. In 1965 she joined the staff of The United Church Observer as "Women's Editor." She became interim editor in 1979, and officially retired in 1980, but in 1996 re-established an ongoing relationship with The Observer as volunteer editor of the Letters section. Now 92, she continues to deliver award-winning copy on time, month in and month out; the Letters section remains the most-read part of the magazine.

Magazines du Québec Volunteer of the Year Jean-François started his career in magazines in 1996 at Transcontinental Publications (now TC Media). In 2005 he joined Éditions Genex, and was promoted in 2006 to Assistant General Manager, where he managed everyday operations of the group's magazines. In 2008, he became Bayard Presse Canada's Information Systems Manager, overseeing subscription and book software for the Canadian market. He is now Analyst and Fulfillment Manager for the more than 80 magazines published and managed by Bayard Presse Canada and Senior Publications. Jean-François joined the board of Magazines du Québec in 2010, and is currently its president.

Only about 1 in 6 Canadians have ad blockers installed

Despite dire warnings about ad-blocking software's impact on advertising --publishers' main source of revenue -- a new study from IAB Canada, using comScore data, shows that only one in six Canadians (about 17%) have ad blocking installed on their desktops; and even fewer (6%) have it on their mobile devices. The highest usage of ad blockers (28%) is among millennial males.

"Interestingly, the study revealed that 13% of Canadians that had installed ad blocking software/apps at one point have actually disabled or deleted it from their system,The biggest motivators cited for uninstalling/no longer using ad blocking were the fact that the ad blockers didn’t work properly and that they interfered with site functionality."

The study found that Canadians overwhelmingly prefer free, ad-supported online content versus pay-for-content options. The preference was for less intrusive ad formats with skippable video ads and behaviorally-targeted ads getting the highest scores.

Downloadable study

Quote, unquote: On print publishing as a cash machine

“We are not a magazine company. We’re a content company,” said Ripp, who acknowledged that Time Inc. would bring in two-thirds of its 2016 revenue from print advertising and circulation and just one-third from digital advertising. In 2015, the company’s total revenue was $3.1 billion, of which 76 percent of sales came from print and 24 percent from digital. It is projecting a 1 percent to 5 percent increase in revenue in 2016. It’s still an incredible cash machine,” Ripp said of the print magazine business. “People pay us a year in advance.”

-- Joe Ripp, Time Inc. chairman and chief executive officer, quoted in WWD, who also said 

“A lot of the digital properties don’t make a nickel. People are starting to realize that.”

Munro's Books of Victoria named Magazines Canada's Retailer of the Year

BC's Munro's Books has been named Magazines Canada's Retailer of the Year for 2015, It is well known as having been co-founded by renowned short story writer Alica Munro and her then husband Jim. Here's the text of the Magazines Canada announcement:

Co-owner Ian Cochran, along with Sarah Frye, Carol Mentha and principal owner Jessica Walker, was pleased to add the Retailer of the Year award to another recent accolade from none other than National Geographic: in their 2015 book Destinations of a Lifetime, Munro's was #3 on a list of their top 10 bookstores in the world. 

From the National Geographic citation: "In 1963, exactly a half century before she won the Nobel Prize in literature, Alice Munro cofounded a bookstore with her then husband, Jim. Munro's has since moved into a magnificent, neoclassical former bank, decorated with gorgeous fabrics, in Old Town, Victoria, British Columbia." 

Open at its first of three locations on Yates Street in 1963, the store watched as the neighbourhood changed and the library and movie theatres that were the anchors moved away and, in 1979, Munro's followed the pedestrian traffic flow to a new location on 4th Street. This is where Cochran joined the staff just before the move in 1984 to its current location on Government Street. 

When asked about the role of magazines at the store, Cochran said this could be dated back to the early 1990s: Munro's added magazines "when Chapters came to town in order to compete with them." The store has been a great seller of Canadian magazines and literary magazines in particular, and a great support of Magazines Canada's promotions over the years. 

The Magazines Canada Retailer of the Year Award recognizes the vital role retailers play in the Canadian magazine landscape, and is awarded annually to an outstanding client of Magazines Canada's distribution service who cultivates this connection between consumers and their Canadian magazines. Congratulations to Munro's! 

The Retailer of the Year Award will be presented at the Magazines Canada reception on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at MagNet: Canada's Magazine Conference at the Courtyard Toronto Downtown at 475 Yonge St. in Toronto.

Founder of Canada Moto Guide motorcycle magazine killed in crash in eastern Ontario

Photo: Steve Thornton/driving.ca

Robert Harris, the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of Canada Moto Guide (CMG), Canada's first web-only motorcycle e-zine (launched in 1998), died in a motorcycle crash in eastern Ontario over the weekend. He was 49 and lived in Sackville, New Brunswick. 

[CBC audio report]

The New Quarterly to launch essay collection "Falling in Love with Poetry"

A new book “Falling in Love with Poetry,” a collection of essays from The New Quarterly, the award-winning Canadian literary magazine, is being launched on Wednesday evening at Conrad Grebel University College. at the University of Waterloo. 

The book grew out of a conversation Rae Crossman had with The New Quarterly’s then editor, Kim Jernigan. Crossman's own essay, the first in the series, is featured in the collection. 

Crossman, Program Director and poet laureate for Waterloo Unlimited, a high school student enrichment program, since 2004 , is retiring following the May 2016 program and will be honoured as part of the launch event for his efforts as educator, director, connector, and poet.

Finalists named by CSME for Canadian Editors' Choice awards

The finalists for the Canadian Editors' Choice awards have been announced by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors. The winners will be announced at the CSME gala on Wednesday, June 8 during the MagNet conference in Toronto. At that time, the winners the also be announced for the Jim Cormier Award for best display writing, the best front of book, best art integration, best web editorial and the editor of the year. 

Finalists are:

Best Magazine, Small Circulation:
– Spacing
– BC Business
– Canada’s History Magazine

Best Magazine, Medium Circulation:
– Western Living
– Today’s Parent
– ELLE Canada

Best Magazine, Trade:
– Professionally Speaking
– Precedent
– Ignite Magazine

Best Magazine, Custom:
– Fairmont Magazine
– Mercedes-Benz Magazine
– enRoute Magazine

Best Tablet Edition:
– Today’s Parent
– ELLE Canada
– Canadian Health & Lifestyle

[There are no finalists this year in the best magazome. large circulation category >150,000. Click on Comments below.]

Allergic Living magazine wins award for food allergy activism

Allergic Living magazine has won one of FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education)'s 2016 Vision Awards – the Business Award for Food Allergy Activism. The award  was made on the weekend  to the Toronto-based magazine at the Fare National Food Allergy conference in Orlando, Florida.  

Allergic Living was created in 2005 to assist readers living with food and environmental allergies and asthma and produces both Canadian and American editions.  

Creator of Jasper comic which ran for years in Maclean's, inducted into hall of cartoonist fame

Cartoonist Seth gave a tribute at the recent Doug Wright Awards to James Simpkins, who was posthumously inducted into the Wright Awards’ Giants of the North hall of fame. 

Simpkins, who died at the age of 93 in 2004, is best known for his comic Jasper, featuring a playful, innocent trouble-making bear, which ran in as a regular panel in Maclean’s and on newspaper comic pages for more than two decades combined. The comic was often a gentle hymn to parks, nature and conservation, but most generally based its humour on the interaction of Jasper with humans. 

[I have a lapel pin of Jasper that is almost inevitably mistaken by people for Yogi Bear, a creation of Hanna-Barbera. I think I'll wear Jasper to the National Magazine Awards.]

Mag world view: Who owns the checkout racks?; Pants dropping?; Clangers debut; Brexit chill; auto content coming?; Rusbridger falls on sword

• Does the Supermarket Checkout Belong to 7 Publishing Companies? (Publishing Executive)
• Are Publishers Maintaining Their Integrity Or Just Dropping Their Pants? (Dead Tree Edition)
• How B2B Media is Trying to Get the Magic Back (Folio:)
• We know people read news on their phones. But from what sources? (Nieman Journalism Lab)
• Inside Harvard Business Review’s Plans to Boost High-Frequency Traffic (Folio:)
• Immediate Media launches Clangers Magazine (FIPP)
• CFO Publishing and Related Assets Acquired by Argyle (Folio:)
• Campaign editor-in-chief Claire Beale says B2B journalism 'alive and kicking' in her market
• 'Sad', 'disrespectful', 'un-Guardian' - but not a huge surprise: Insider reaction to the ousting of Alan Rusbridger (Press Gazette)
• Brexit brings a commercial chill even to Eurosceptic press barons (Guardian)
• “We are at a very interesting turning point in the history of publishing. Where are we going to go?” (MagWorld)
• Literary magazine Meanjin may close after losing Australia Council funding (Guardian)
• Is automated content the future? (MagWorld)
• Bucking the trend…South Africa’s market leader turns 100 (MagWorld)

Biennial salary and billing survey being done in the communication design industry

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Creative Niche and the Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) are collaborating on a national survey of salaries and billing practices in the Canadian communication design industry. The results of Creative Earners will be published in November. RGD has produced 8 editions of the salary survey since 2001. 

The research is aimed at people in such positions as art director, design director, graphic designers, brand/content strategists, production managers and so on. Some of those will be found, doubtless, in digital and print magazines. 

"The report will provide insights into financial trends in the creative communications sector in Canada and offer a summary of the current status of communication design professionals – who they are, the services they offer, how they define their profession and where they think the industry is headed."

 [Previous (2014) report]

Hill Strategies suspending arts research studies

For a good many years, Hill Strategies Research have been producing invaluable research and analysis about the arts in Canada and in various provinces and cities. These have been particularly useful to literary and cultural publications, but also to publishers in general. 

The analytic reports drilled down into government data and crunched the numbers to give real insights. Their series of  46 reports called Statistical Insights on the Arts series have been produced since Kelly Hill founded the organization in 2002. But the series is being discontinued.  

The funding consortium which made the work possible has decided to suspend funding for the reports in 2016/17 as well as the no-fee presentations based on the reports. It's a great shame and we'll all feel the loss.

There have been a few key factors in the suspension of this publication: 1) a one-year delay in the fielding of arts participation questions; 2) revisions to the Survey of Household Spending that have reduced the number of arts-relevant line items; and 3) other than for the report Educating Artists, we were not able to find new datasets that met the funding consortium’s needs over the short term.

The Arts Research Monitor is funded through a separate contract with a different funding consortium, and that research publication continues (having just started its 15th season).

As a result of this change, Hill Strategies has more time for special projects and would love to hear about any survey ideas or other arts research needs that you might wish to pursue. For inspiration, you may wish to check out our recent survey work and qualitative research related to the arts in B.C. and our report on Municipal Cultural Investment in Five Large Canadian Cities. We have recently conducted (or are in the process of conducting) surveys for Theatre Calgary, Arts Council Wood Buffalo, the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, and the McMaster Museum of Art.

Quote, unquote: On church & state in a digital age

"The challenge is that we can no longer rely on org charts, job descriptions, or separate seating arrangements to maintain journalistic integrity. Now it’s about mindset and corporate culture. It’s about Church and State being in the same pool but swimming in their own lanes. It’s about people who are part Church and part State struggling at times to keep their roles separate. It’s about how we communicate our values within the organization, especially to new hires who don’t have a legacy-publishing background."

-- D. Eadward Tree, writing in Dead Tree Edition

Time Inc.'s Canadian advertising sales to be handled by Publicitas

Time Inc. has selected Publicitas to handle its advertising sales in Canada. It was announced today that the large international marketing services company will represent over 30 print and digital brands across the Time Inc. portfolio which may include People, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Time, Real Simple, Southern Living, Entertainment Weekly, Cooking Light and Fortune. The multi-year agreement is effective immediately. The arrangement does not include the Affluent Media Group (Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine and Departures.)

“We awarded our Canadian business to Publicitas because of its solid track record with some of our key brands, its talented and driven team and its deep relationships in the region,” said Ellis. “We conducted a thorough search for a partner to help us better extend our ‘One Time Inc.’ sales approach to our clients in Canada. Publicitas was the unanimous choice, and we welcome the company to the Time Inc. team. It is going to be a great asset for us.”

Longtime Maclean's editor and Estonian musician Peeter Kopvillem has died at 61

Kopvillem performing for the last time in Estonia in 2008

Peeter Kopvillem, who was the senior executive editor of Maclean's when ill-health forced him to go on leave in 2012, has died at the age of 61.  He had been in the magazine business for more than 30 years. He was known for his joy in and championship of both great magazine stories (for such publications as Maclean's and before that Quest), and Estonian culture and music. 

[Peeter's colleagues remember him.]

[Globe and Mail death notice; funeral services Saturday 21st]

Kopvillem received the Order of the White Star from the President of Estonia in February, in recognition of his efforts to promote Estonian culture in Canada. For a brief period from 1993 to 1995, he was the director of the Estonian editorial board for Radio Free Europe in Munich. 

He was in the Canadian-Estonian band Külapoisid (The Village Boys) in the late 1970s; they released their only album, “Külapoisid … lõppude lõpuks” (“The Village Boys … Finally”), in 1979. His first solo album, “Kuku sa kägu” (“Call, you cuckoo”) was released in 1984, and before embarking on a two-week, ten-concert tour of Estonia in 1989, Kopvillem put together a band and recorded his second solo album, “Uued laulud” (“New Songs”). He considered releasing a third album after a long pause, but ultimately did not end up recording it. He performed publicly for the last time, together with his daughtersLeiki and Keila, at a Toronto Estonian House 50th Anniversary event in 2011. He is survived by his daughters and his wife of 39 years, Eva Varangu. 

[Thanks to Estonian Public Broadcasting]

Culture contribution to GDP increased 2.8% in 2014, Statscan study says

A Statistics Canada report released today about cultural indicators across the country reveals that growth (or decline) in contribution of culture to gross domestic product (GDP) nationally rose 2.8%. GDP contribution by provinces were as follows:

• Newfoundland and Labrador 1.5% (visual and applied arts +6.2%)
• Prince Edward Island 0.6%
• Nova Scotia 2.6% (visual and applied arts +6.1%)
• New Brunswick 0.9% 
• Quebec 3.2% (audio-visual and interactive media +3.9%; visual and applied arts +5.0%)
• Ontario 3.8% (sound recording +10.1%)
• Manitoba 2.7% (written and published works +6.0%)
• Saskatchewan 3.1% (written and published works +8.4%)
• Alberta 3.3% (written and published works -5.8%)
• British Columbia 4.2% (audio-visual and interactive media +6.3%; visual and applied arts +7.7%)
• Yukon 1.2% (visual and applied arts +6.6%)
• Northwest Territories - 2.7%
• Nunavut 2.0% 

Nationally, jobs in cultural industries decreased slightly -- 0.8% in 2014 (compared with a 1.1% gain in 2013). 

"GDP of culture industries rose 3.5% nationally in 2014, following a 4.4% gain in 2013. GDP of culture industries in all provinces and territories except Northwest Territories (-2.7%)," the study summary said. "British Columbia (+4.2%) had the strongest growth, followed by Ontario (+3.8%) and Alberta (+3.3%). Nationally, economy-wide GDP increased 4.2% in 2014, compared to 3.9% in 2013."

Source: Provincial and Territorial Culture Indicators, 2010 to 2014 

Chris Purcell of TVA Publications named Magazines Canada volunteer of the year

Magazines Canada has named Chris Purcell, vice-president of marketing and circulation and general manager, Toronto for TVA Publications, as its volunteer of the year for 2015. The award is given annually to one individual whose outstanding volunteer contributions have had a national impact on the Canadian magazine industry. It will be presented on Thursday, June 9 during the MagNet industry conference in Toronto. 

"His dedication to the industry, his team and this association is emblematic of the leaders I've had the pleasure of getting to know at Magazines Canada. The number of hours that Chris has voluntarily put in on the Blue Box Advisory is nothing short of heroic," said Matthew Holmes, CEO of Magazines Canada. "It's a file that is highly technical, time-consuming, and requires great diplomacy. The material impact that Chris has had in building bridges to other industries and getting buy-in on the need for change to Blue Box fees for magazines speaks for itself. And this is in addition to his many other contributions over the years, at MagNet and beyond."

TVA Group magazine division soars in Q1 2016, based on Transcon acqusitions

Revenues for the magazine segment of the TVA Group doubled in the first quarter of 2016, from $14,878,000 to $27,487,000 in Q1 of 2015. Adjusted operating income for magazines was $2,059,000, up $1,094,000(+113%).

The performance of the magazine division was mainly driven by a major acquisition from Transcontinental Media in mid-2015 as well as the pruning of expenses. The magazines segment includes TVA Publications inc. and Les Publications Charron & Cie inc., and publishes French- and English-language magazines. It is North America's largest broadcaster of French-language entertainment, information and public affairs programming, largest publisher of French-language magazines, and one of the largest private-sector producers of French-language content as well as being one of the largest publishers of key English language titles such as Canadian Living. 
. 

Revenues
Broadcasting & Production	$	105,963	$	103,523
Magazines		27,487		14,878
Film Production & Audiovisual Services		15,512		10,249
Intersegment items		(3,439)		(2,136)
		145,523		126,514

Over all, the TVA Group Inc., a subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., announced recorded adjusted operating income in the amount of $0.3 million Q1, compared with a $7.7 million adjusted operating loss in the same quarter of 2015. The Corporation also declared a net loss attributable to shareholders of $7.4 million or a loss of $0.17 per share for the quarter, compared with a net loss attributable to shareholders of $14.7 million or a loss of $0.57 per share in the same quarter of 2015.

Magazine winners announced for the 2015 Atlantic Journalism Awards

The winners of the 35th annual Atlantic Journalism Awards were announced on Saturday in Halifax. Multiple award winners included Atlantic Business Magazine with 4 awards (2 golds, 2 silver); Saltscapes won 2 (1 gold, 1 silver); East Coast Living 2 (1 gold, 1 silver); Atlantic Salmon Journal 2 silver; Halifax Magazine 3 silver.

Gold -- magazine article

The awards are presented in all sorts of media, including newspapers, radio and television, but here are magazine-related gold and silver winners:

Atlantic Magazine Article
Gold: Stephanie Porter - Atlantic Business Magazine - St. John's, NL - Ancient Land, Modern Life.
Silver: Mary-Frances Lynch - Saltscapes Magazine - Halifax, NS - Healing Roots;
Mike Allen - Atlantic Salmon Journal - Chamcook, NB - River One.

Atlantic Magazine: Best Cover
Gold: East Coast Living - Halifax, NS - Winter 2015: Bright New

Best cover
Winter 2015

View.
Silver: Atlantic Salmon Journal - Chamcook, NB - Art of Conservation;
Halifax Magazine - Halifax, NS - Pet Projects;
East Coast Living - Halifax, NS - Fall 2015: Old Town, New House.

Atlantic Magazine: Best Profile Article
Gold: Stephen Kimber - Atlantic Business Magazine - St. John's, NL - Innovator of the Year.
Silver: Sarah Sawler - Halifax Magazine - Halifax, NS - Level Up;
Stephen Kimber - Atlantic Business Magazine - St. John's, NL - The Trials and Tribulations of Vrege Armoyan.

Enterprise Reporting: Print
Silver: David Boehm - Rural Delivery - Liverpool, NS - Lobster on a Roll.

Business Reporting: Any Medium
Silver: Stephen Kimber - Atlantic Business Magazine - St. John's, NL - Boiling Point.

Arts & Entertainment Reporting: Any Medium
Gold: Philip Lee - Saltscapes Magazine - Bedford, NS - Lennie's Dream.

Commentary: Any Medium
Silver: Trevor Adams - Halifax Magazine - Halifax, NS - How We Remember.

Complete winners list

Trudeaus picked among "most beautiful Canadians" of 2016 by Hello! Canada

Hello! Canada magazine has selected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau to lead the pack as the Most Beautiful Canadians of 2016. It's in the May 4 issue. (This after People magazine selected him for its Sexiest list and Vogue did a photo shoot with the couple.)

Nominees announced for 62nd annual Canadian Business Media Awards

A total of 36 Canadian business to business publications have been named finalists in 21 written, visual, integrated and special categories for the 62nd annual Canadian Business Media Awards in memory of Kenneth R. Wilson. 

The b2b publishing awards program recognizes the outstanding efforts of business-to business magazine content and are named in honour of one of Canada's top business writers, Kenneth R. Wilson wrote with clarity and authority. His opinions were widely sought and respected. In spite of his busy career, he was active in a number of editor and journalist associations. A tragic airplane crash ended his distinguished career in January, 1952. He was 47 years old. It is the memory of Kenneth R. Wilson, his example and his achievements in business press journalism, that we honour each year with these awards.

The winners will be announced at a gala event, Tuesday June 7 at the Grand Banking \Hall at One King West, Toronto.

The finalists for Magazine of the Year are:

• BCBusiness
• Marketing magazine
• The Medical Post

Three finalists were selected for Best Media Brand, a new category this year. The contestants were evaluated on how clearly their brand aligned its editorial mission with journalistic excellence, presentation, service to readers, innovation and use of multiple content platforms to serve and grow the brand's audience. 

• Lexpert
• Precedent 
• University Affairs

Harvey Southam Award

Michel Dongois

The Harvey Southam Award is the highest individual honour bestowed by Canadian Business Media and recognizes an individual's contributions to the Canadian Business Media tradition of distinguished initiative, leadership and integrity. This year it will be presented to Michel Dongois, a senior journalist of the business-to-business press, recognized for his outstanding professionalism, integrity and humanism.

Top nominated magazines are:

• CPA Magazine, which leads all publications with 25 nominations
• Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession with 16 nominations
• University Affairs and D&A Magazine share the third position with 8 nominations each
• Precedent and Medical Post (7 each)
• Foodservice & Hospitality and Marketing (6 each)
• Listed and Canadian Grocer (6 each)

Among individual nominees in written categories are:

• Trish Snyder leads with 5 nominations for pieces published in Professionally Speaking, taking more than half of the nominations in the Best Profile of a Person category. 
• Daniel Fish also earned 3 nominations for his work published in Precedent. 
• Gathering 2 nominations for individual written awards are Jeff Buckstein, Jane Langille, Kathryn Leger, Rosanna Caira, Rosalind Stefanac and Robert Thompson.

In art direction categories

• Bernadette Gillen collected four nominations for her work in CPA Magazine. 
• Gilbert Li and Alina Skyson garnered three nominations on behalf of Precedent magazine. Studio 141 Inc., Underline Studio and Glenn Taylor received two nominations each for their artistic vision in magazines Professionally Speaking, University Affairs and Marketing,
• Photographer Markian Lozowchuk and illustrator Maurice Vellekoop cumulated two nominations each for work published in Professionally Speaking and CPA Magazine

In visual, integrated and special categories nominees are:

Best Cover

• BCBusiness
• Canadian Lawyer
• CPA Magazine
• Pharmacy Practice+
• Professionally Speaking
• University Affairs. 

Best In-House Cover

Introduced this year, this category is intended to reward publications whose covers are produced entirely by the editorial team, maximizing their impact on a limited budget. 

• Advisor's Edge
• Conseiller
• Franchise Canada

Best Issue of 2015 

• CPA Magazine
• D&A Magazine
• Foodservice and Hospitality
• Marketing
• Professionally Speaking
• University Affairs 

Full nominations list

Nominees announced for first annual Digital Publishing Awards

Maclean's magazine, received the most nominations (11) in the first annual Digital Publishing Awards. Finalists were announced today by the National Magazine Awards Foundation in 14 categories.Some 63 Canadian digital publications participated in the DPAs. 

Top Nominees for the 2016 Digital Publishing Awards

Publication	Nominations
Maclean’s	11
The Globe and Mail	10
Toronto Star	8
CBCNews.ca	6
Toronto Life	5
L’actualité	4
Sportsnet	4
Hakai Magazine	3
Buzzfeed Canada	2
Torontoist	2

Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be presented at the inaugural Digital Publishing Awards soirée on Thursday, June 9 at the Spoke Club’s Portland Room at 600 King Street West, Toronto. The host will be Christopher Frey, the Toronto-based writer, editor, teacher and radio producer. Gold and Silver awards in most categories include a cash prize. Tickets are on sale at http://live.digitalpublishingawards.ca/

The nominees include:

DIGITAL PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

• Canadian Business
• CBCNews.ca
• L'actualité
• Maclean’s
• Toronto Life

BEST DIGITAL INITIATIVE

• L'actualité: Le Signal
• National Film Board of Canada: I Love Potatoes
• The Globe and Mail: Tools Suite
• Toronto Star: Star Touch Slice

BEST USE OF MULTIPLE PLATFORMS

• Maclean’s
• Sportsnet
• Today’s Parent
• Toronto Life

BEST DIGITAL DESIGN

• Air Canada enRoute: Canada’s Best New Restaurants
• Hakai Magazine: hakaimagazine.com
• Maclean’s: The Bulldog Edition
• Toronto Life: torontolife.com
• Toronto Star: Star Touch

Quote, unquote: Considering magazines as "lifestyle objects"

Of course it’s hard to draw comparisons, but if the proportion of magazine-buyers who don’t read their purchases is anything like the 50% of vinyl buyers who don’t play their records, then maybe that is something for magazine-makers to consider. It’s fair to say that many independent titles have become lifestyle objects. There is an achingly trendy concept store near where I live in Amsterdam, one of those confusing emporiums that seems to sell clothes, candles and antique watering cans. It stocks three indie magazines and I would bet that most of you would be able to name them.

-- Rob Alderson, writing in MagCulture

Symposium to look back at the brief, but important, life of The Body Politic

There is to be symposium at the University of Toronto's University College, marking the 45th anniversary of the founding of The Body Politic, a groundbreaking gay liberation publication. Saturday, May 28 9:30 - 4 pm. 

For 15 years (1971-1987) its writers challenged sexual orthodoxies, documented community resistance, celebrated queer history and culture, and fought for press freedom in a famous court case. 

Does this history of advocacy journalism offer lessons for new generations of queer activists? Join a symposium of scholars and activists to debpuate the question.

Concurrently, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is running a new play called Body Politic from May 21 to June 12. Registration for the symposium is at http://papertrails.eventbrite.ca/. Information about the play and to reserve tickets 
http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/show/body-politic/

Magawards finalists announced; Toronto Life leads with 26 nominations

The National Magazine Awards Foundation has announced the nominees for this year's 39th annual awards. The gold and silver winners in the 39 categories will be presented in the Arcadian Court in Toronto on Friday, June 10.

The four finalists for magazine of the year are Canadian Geographic, Caribou, Maisonneuve and Nouveau Projet.

Among multiple nominations, Toronto Life leads with 26, followed by The Walrus (20), Maclean’s and Maisonneuve (18 each), L’actualité and Sportsnet (16), and Hazlitt (15). 

Magazines nominated for their first National Magazine Awards include 1968 Magazine, Buzzfeed Canada, Caribou, Chloe, DTK Men, Hakai, Humber Literary Review, One Throne, Oxygène, Reel West, The Rusty Toque,and SAD Magazine.

For Best New Magazine Writer, the four finalists are Desmond Cole, Karen Ho, Richard Kelly Kemick and Kat Shermack.

For Best New Magazine Photographer, the four finalists are Ted Belton, Hannah Eden, Marta Iwanek and Luis Mora.

For Best Magazine Brand—presented to the publication whose brand best delivers on their editorial mandate through at least three platforms—the three finalists are Cottage Life, Ricardo and Spacing.

As reported here earlier, Kim Pittaway is to receive this year's Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement.

184 magazines entered their best editorial and design,  representing the work of more than 3,000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators and art directors.  232 volunteer judges  nominated 309 submissions.   

Full list of finalists