Canadian Online Publishing Awards announced

Winners of the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs) were announced Tuesday. The awards are run by Masthead magazine and the gold and silver recipients in the consumer category included a number of selected print and digital magazine-related entrants:

Best Canada 150 feature

• Gold: Canada's Ultimate Story/Legion magazine/ Canvet Publications
• Silver: Cottage Life/Blue Ant Media

Best blog or column

• Gold: SavvyMom.ca/ Maple Media Ltd.
• Silver: Planete F magazine

Best service article or series (Consumer)

• Gold: Vancouver magazine

Best lifestyle article or series

• Silver: ELLE Québec

Best investigative article or series

• Gold: UC Observer magazine
• Silver: Hakai magazine /The Tula Foundation

Best interactive/infographic story

• Gold: Canada's Ultimate Story/Legion magazine/ Canvet Publications
• Silver: MoneySense/ Rogers Media

Best photo journalism

• Gold: Hakai magazine
• Silver: Vancouver magazine

Best video content

• Gold: Hakai magazine
• Silver: ELLE Canada

Best podcast

• Gold: Canada's History

Best branded content

• Silver: Cottage Life

Best social media content

• Silver: Flare.com

Best email newsletter

• Gold: Canadian Art / Canadian Art Foundation
• Silver: Hakai magazine

Best online campaign

• Gold: CAA magazine / Totem
• Silver: Clin d'oeil/ TVA Publications

Best niche website

• Gold: Western Living magazine
• Silver: Planete F magazine

Best service website

• Gold: Coup de Pouce
• Silver: Today's Parent

Full list of finalists and winners  in academic, business and consumer categories.

Can the Canadian magazine industry resolve the developing struggle over awards?

Magazines are a seasonal business, in sales, in circulation and...in awards. In Canada, there has been for 40 years National Magazine Awards and for even longer the Kenneth R. Wilson Awards for trade publishing. These have been augmented by various other ventures such as the editors' choice awards of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors, the Canadian Online Publishing Awards, the Canadian Cover Awards and, more recently, the Digital Publishing Awards. It's a crowded ecosystem recognizing various aspects of the business, particularly as it has evolved beyond print-and-paper and increasingly into the digital realm. 

1. The National Magazine Awards managed by the National Magazine Awards Foundation;
2. The Digital Publishing Awards, launched by the National Magazine Awards Foundation in spring of this year;
3. The Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs), produced by Masthead Magazine;
4. The Editors' Choice Awards, presented annually by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME);
5. The Canadian Cover Awards,  presented jointly by Magazines Canada and CMC.

However this year there is likely to be a disturbance in the force, to use a Star Wars figure of speech. Last November, several big magazine publishers announced that they were going to abandon the NMAs in favour of an awards program of their own, one that they felt better reflected publishing excellence as they perceived it.  The signatories were  

• Steve Maich, senior vice-president of publishing at Rogers Communications
• Lucie Dumas, vice-president, managing director, magazines group, TVA Publications Inc.
• Doug Knight, president of St. Joseph Media
• Shelley Ambrose, publisher of The Walrus and executive director of The Walrus Foundation
• Robert Goyette, vice-president and editor-in-chief of Reader's Digest

These bigger publishers said there needed to be "far fewer and more meaningful awards" and that they should be "more closely aligned to celebrating excellence at the very highest level".  Soon thereafter they approached Magazines Canada's board proposing that the association design and manage the awards program the big publishers envisioned. The Mags Canada board agreed and instructed its staff to make it so. It seems likely that these new awards will happen in conjunction with the MagNet conference in April. 

In the face of this,  the board of the National Magazine Awards Foundation has decided to carry on with the NMAs and the DPAs.  Even with the departure of the big publishers, the NMAs believes it will still represent 75% of the magazine industry in Canada. 

There are actually several awards programs in play at the moment. The NMA's digital publishing awards are similar to, but different from, the longer-standing Canadian Online Publishing Awards, produced by Masthead magazine. The Canadian Business Media Awards for trade publishers (KRWs) are in limbo since the announced merger of CBM and Magazines Canada. (The services of the NMA team that previously managed the KRWs/CBM concluded last month.) CSME is thought to be exploring the future of its Editors' Choice Awards. 
Read more »

Magazines are big winners in Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Here are the magazine-related winners announced last night at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards  (COPAs).

Red category (including consumer magazines and b2c content)

• Best editorial packaging --  Gold Alberta Venture; Silver Today's Parent
• Best infographic/data visualization -- Gold Canadian Living
• Best interactive story -- Gold Elle Canada; Silver Today's Parent
• Best video content -- Gold Elle Canada; Silver UC Observer
• Best branded content -- Gold Canadian Living
• Best email newsletter design and engagement -- Gold Canada's History -- Magna Carta; Silver Canadian Art
• Best media website -- Gold Canadian Living; Silver Elevate Magazine
• Best website design -- Gold Elevate Magazine
• Best digital publication -- Gold Ontario Out of Doors; Silver Today's Parent
• Best mobile solution -- Gold Today's Parent

Blue category (business-to-business (b2b) including trade and association magazines)

• Best editorial packaging -- Silver Manitoba Cooperator
• Best news coverage -- Gold University Affairs
• Best blog or column -- Gold University Affairs; Silver Today's Trucking
• Best article or series -- Gold Graduate School of Journalism UBC
• Best inforgraphic/data visualization -- Gold Salon Magazine; Silver Sparksheet
• Best interactive story -- Gold Graduate School of Journalism UBC; Silver IT World Canada
• Best video content -- Gold University Affairs; Silver IT Business (IT World Canada)
• Best branded content -- Gold IT World Canada
• Best use of social media -- Gold IT World Canada
• Best email newsletter design and engagement -- Gold University Affairs; Silver CPA Canada Member News
• Best media web site -- Gold Salonmagazine.ca; Silver Manitoba Co-operator
• Best website design -- Gold University Affairs
• Best digital publication -- Gold Alberta Oil Magazine 

Green category (news and current affairs)

• Best news coverage -- Silver Maclean's
• Best blog or column -- Gold Maclean's 
• Best interactive story -- Silver Maclean's
• Best branded content -- Gold Maclean's; Silver Chatelaine
• Best use of social media -- Silver Maclean's
• Best email newsletter design and engagement -- Gold Sharp Magazine
• Best online campaign -- Gold Maclean's
• Best digital publication -- Gold Sportsnet magazine -- Stanley Cup Playoffs; Silver Sportsnet magazine -- Stanley Cup Final

Complete list of finalists and winners

Canadian Online Publishing Awards finalists announced

The finalists have been announced for the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA). The nominees are in three divisions: Red (consumer); Blue (B2B); and Green (News), in up to 15 categories in each. The winners will be announced November 19 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne Street, Toronto.  Tickets are now on sale. 

Magazines win big at Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Below are the magazine-related winners in the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA), given out on Thursday night in Toronto. 

See the full list of finalists and winners. 

Red division (including consumer magazines)

Best media web site 

• MoneySense (Gold)
• Canadian Living (Silver)

Best corporate website

• NGC Magazine (Gold)

Best website design

• Thewalrus.ca (Gold)
• Parentdish Canada (Silver

Best news coverage

• Torontoist (Gold)
• Fashionmagazine.com (Silver)

Best blog or column

• YummyMummyClub.ca (Gold)
• tuja wellness (Silver)

Best article or series

• The Huffington Post Canada Living (Gold)
• Toronto Life (Silver)

Best infographic

• styleathome.com (Gold)
• Canadian Family (Silver)

Best interactive story

• Toronto Life (Gold)
• Canadian Living (Silver)

Best use of social media

• styleathome.com (Gold)
• thewalrus.ca (Silver)

Best email newsletter design and engagement

• Weddingbells (Gold)
• Canadian Family (Silver)

Best digital publication for desktop and tablet

• Cottage Life (Gold)
• The Hockey News (Silver)

Best mobile solution

• Toronto Life -- Mobile (Gold)
• Fashion Magazine -- Mobile (Silver)

Best online campaign

• Toronto Life -- Evolve Fitness (Gold)

Read more »

Mainstream mags dominate with finalists in Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs)

The finalists have been announced for the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs), which are to be presented November 20. A complete list of finalists.  

Among the magazine finalists in the red category, which covers consumer magazines, are:

• Best Media Website
• BCLiving (Canada Wide Media Limited)
• Canadian Living (TC Media)
• MoneySense (Rogers Media)
• Toronto Life (St. Joseph Media)
• Best Website Design
• Taddle Creek (Vitalis Publishing)
• TheWalrus.ca (The Walrus Foundation)
• Best News Coverage 
• Fashionmagazine.com (St. Joseph Media) (2)
• Torontoist (St. Joseph Media)
• Best Blog or Column
• Toronto Life (St. Joseph Media) (2)
• Torontoist (St. Joseph Media)
• Best Article or Series
• MoneySense (Rogers Media)
• Best Infographic
• Canadian Family (St. Joseph Media)
• Styleathome.com (TC Media)
• Best Interactive Story 
• Canadian Living (TC Media)
• Elle Quebec (Transcontinental Meida G.P.)
• The UC Observer
• Toronto Life (St. Joseph Media)
• Best Use of Social Media
• Canadiangardening.com (TC Media)
• Ontario Out of Doors 
• Styleathome.com
• TheWalrus.ca
• Best Email Newsletter Design and Engagement
• Canada's History: Remembering D-Day
• Canadian Family (St. Joseph Media)
• Canadian Living (TC Media)
• Canadiangardening.com (TC Media)
• Weddingbells (St. Joseph)
• Best Digital Publication for Desktop and Tablet
• Best Health (Reader's Digest Canada)
• Canadian Living (TC Media)
• The Hockey News (TC Media)
• Westworld Alberta (Canada Wide)
• Best Mobile Solution
• Fashion Magazine (St. Joseph Media)
• Toronto Life (St. Joseph Media)

Among the magazine-related finalists in the blue category -- largely niche business-to-business and association publications -- are:

• Best Media Web Site
• Grainnews.ca (Farm Business Communications)
• Salon Magazine (Salon Communications Inc.)
• The Ryersonian (Ryerson School of Journalism)
• University Affairs (AUCC)

Read more »

Deadline looms for Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Only 9 days left to enter the Canadian Online Publishing Awards  (July 19).  There are 15 categories in each of three divisions, including cover design, writing, and packaging, in different digital formats including websites, tablet editions, digital replicas and apps. It's for work published between June 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013:

• Red Division: Digital journalism from consumer, custom, religious, and public association publishers.
• Blue Division: Digital journalism from business-to-business, professional association, farm, and scholarly publishers.
• Plus Green Division: Digital journalism from daily and community newspapers, radio and television. Ethnic media entries are welcome.

Winners will be announced and awards presented in November in Toronto. COPA is produced by Masthead magazine. 

Sparksheet and Torontoist win big in online publishing awards

The Walrus and University Affairs magazines and the Globe and Mail won gold awards in for best websites by publications with print companion brands at last night's announcements of the 3rd annual Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The Walrus won in the red division (consumer) and UA in the blue division (business-to-business). The Globe won in the green division, for newspapers and broadcasters.

Multiple winners on the night were Sparksheet, which took home 7 gold medals in the business-to-business category and Torontoist, which took home 3 gold in the consumer category.

The best online-only websites were Torontoist (red), IT Business (blue) and CBCNews.ca. Best web design went to Toronto Standard (red), Sparksheet (blue) and Nationalpost.com (green). Best digital edition (or digital replica edition) in all divisions went to CIO Canada. Sparksheet was a gold winner from all divisions for best mobile-optimized site. 

COPA is presented by Masthead magazine and the awards capped off a day-long conference at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto.

A full list of gold and silver winners and finalists.

Online publishing awards add digital edition and tablet categories

Entries are now being accepted for the Canadian Online Publishing Awards(COPA). Started originally to honour the best online editorial and design in the magazine industry, the awards have enlarged to encompass newspaper, broadcast and online-only publishers. And in this, its 3rd year, it has added two new categories: best digital edition; and best tablet edition. Also new this year is that gold and silver winners will be awarded in all categories.The entry deadline is June 24. The awards program is presented by Masthead Online.

Further information on divisions, categories and winner benefits

Canadian Online Publishing Awards to be made October 20

It's been announced that the Canadian Online Publishing Awards will be given out on October 20 at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, according to a post on Masthead. [Disclosure: I was a judge in two categories.]

A better look at the tablet-enabled Sports Illustrated

Last week, we published a "sneak peek" at the new tablet-enabled Sports Illustrated, captured on somebody's cell phone.

Well, here from SI itself, are some screenshots of what a tablet-iPod-whatever-enabled magazine might look like.

And a video of the screen in action.

Canadian Online Publishing Awards winners announced

The Tyee,a Vancouver-based news site, won three prizes for best website design, best news and best community feature in the first annual Canadian Online Publishing Awards, announced last night in Toronto.

The awards, created by Mastheadonline, recognize excellence in online editorial and innovation by Canadian magazine and website publishers. [disclosure: I was a judge in one of the categories]

Entries were made in "red" and "blue" categories; red for consumer, custom, religious, and public association websites and blue for business-to-business, professional association, farm, and scholarly websites.Winning websites receive a certificate, promotion to 12,000 advertising professionals and media buyers through the Media In Canada e-mail news bulletin, plus additional media and promotion, including coverage on MastheadOnline. Among the other winners were:

Best overall magazine website – Red
Torontolife.com —St. Joseph Media

Best overall magazine website – Blue
Salon52 —Salon Communications Inc.

Best overall online-only website – Red
DailyXY —XY Media Ventures

Best overall online-only website – Blue
ITBusiness.ca —IT World Canada
       
Best website design – Red
The Tyee —Countercurrent Media Ltd.

Best website design – Blue
Advisor.ca —Rogers Publishing

Best Blog – Red        
Home [Eco]nomics Blog on Granville Island —Canada Wide Media Ltd.
   
Best Blog – Blue    
University Affairs Margin Notes —Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
   
Best Video – Red    
Fashionmagazine.com —St. Joseph Media
   
Best Video – Blue    
Trucknews.com —Business Information Group

Best E-newsletter – Red
20-Minute Supper Club —St. Joseph Media

Best E-newsletter – Blue        
Click! Weekly —Lloyd Media

Best Cross Platform - Red       
Albertaventure.com —Venture Publishing Inc.

Best Cross Platform - Blue       
Canadian Literature: CanLit Poets —University of British Columbia

Best News – Red        
The Tyee —Countercurrent Media Ltd.

Best News – Blue        
IT World Canada —IT World Canada

Best Community Feature – Red & Blue       
The Tyee – Green Your Campbell Cash —Countercurrent Media Ltd.

Best Article or Series – Red        
Granville Online – Ecofashion Series —Canada Wide Media Ltd.

Further information on the awards, nominees and other details from Canadian Online Publishing Awards website