This Magazine launches "alternative" university guide

For years, Maclean's (and to a lesser extent, the Globe and Mail) have had the annual university rankings pretty much to themselves. This year, as the Maclean's guide is on the newsstand, the November/December issue of This Magazine has launched its own Alternative University Guide. 

"Designed with the socially conscious student in mind, This Magazine evaluates everything from environmental practices and disabilities support to progressive academic programs to help for students who are parents.  

"We tell students which schools have the best LGBT rights, the best mental health programs, and the most accessible transit. You’ll also find out what schools are fighting rape culture in innovative new ways and what schools have some of the most active student advocacy clubs.

"We wanted to cover areas mainstream guides don’t and create a resource that would help progressive, lefty students make the best choices for their post-secondary education,” says This Magazine editor Lauren McKeon 

Rogers Publishing helps launch Sears catalogue onto tablets

Rogers Publishing has collaborated with media buying agency Vizeum Canada Inc.and Sears Canada to produce what it says is a first in Canada -- an interactive digital catalogue for the iPad. 
The LOOK! report is 32 pages of content, supplemented with interactive videos and moveable graphics, with every link to Sears.ca, through which purchases can be made directly from the site. (A 32-page oversized print version was distributed through selected copies of the Globe and Mail in the recent week.)  
The content includes information about fall fashions, accessories, kitchen and home decor from the Sears 2012 line. It is to run during September across eight Rogers tablet editions: FLARE (where is it already live), Maclean's, Chatelaine,Châtelaine, Today's Parent, HELLO! Canada, and LOULOU English and French. Four-page print magazine components will run as inserts.

“We saw some interesting trends between the LOOK! Report customer and iPad use in Canada and brainstormed ways Sears could capitalize on that connection,” said Micheal Bispo, Senior Vice-President, Managing Director at Vizeum Canada. “We approached Rogers Publishing with the idea because of their slate of publications and willingness to try something new.”

“We’re very excited for Rogers Publishing to be the first in Canada to create an interactive tablet catalogue, and one that leverages our brands’ built-in audiences,” said Jeff Barlow, Senior Director, Innovation/Marketing Solutions at Rogers Publishing Limited. “Our goal is to use the tablet platform to inspire readers with moving elements, videos, social sharing, and the drivers to Sears e-commerce experience.”

Precedent magazine spins off law student supplement into an issue of its own

Precedent magazine, produced principally for young, Ontario lawyers, is this year spinning off its usual fall student supplement into a magazine of its own. Over 4,500 copies of The Precedent Student Issue will be distributed in law school campuses starting next week.

"This year, Precedent is expanding by launching a national student magazine. Rather than publishing our traditional student supplement within the fall issue of Precedent, we decided it was time to give students an entire issue of their own. The new magazine will have a heavy emphasis on career information, while also delivering Precedent’s trademark advice on all things lifestyle: from fashion and food to sports and technology."

It will continue to take its travelling party tour to Ontario law schools, and this year is adding more law schools across Canada. Precedent has been in business more than 5 years now, with its irreverent mix of lifestyle, professional coverage and style information that is distinctive from most of the more traditional lawyers' publications.

A full page 1x ad in the student issue is $4,635.

Men's Fashion launches spring edition

The men's fashion line extension that Fashion magazine launched last fall has apparently shown good enough results that a second edition of Men's Fashion is being published this spring. Men represent some 21% of Fashion's total readership and 150,000 copies of the targetted edition (featuring James Franco on the cover)  is being distributed through major newspapers starting April 9. In addition, 11,000 copies are being polybagged with the May copy of Fashion on newsstands in selected Shopper's Drug Marts across Canada.