Working to deadline? Friday 31st last day to enter cover awards or nominate marketer of the year

Friday Jan 31 is the last day to submit entries for the Canadian Cover Awards as well as to submit a nomination for the Newsstand Marketer of the Year. More information on award categories and how to submit an entry can be found at http://coverawards.ca/. 

Sasha Emmons named as EIC of Today's Parent

Rogers Media has named Sasha Emmons as editor-in-chief of Today's Parent magazine. She is the former executive editor of Parenting.com and a columnist for iVillage.ca who relocated to Toronto about a year ago from New York with her Canadian husband and two children and has been working as a freelancer, contributing to, among other things, TodaysParent.com. 

In announcing the appointment, Steve Maich, senior vice-president and general manager of publishing at Rogers Media said:

“Sasha has everything you could want from an editor-in-chief in today’s media landscape, including outstanding vision and creativity. She is extremely comfortable and enthusiastic with the opportunities presented by digital distribution of our stories and other content. And she has a warmth and charisma that makes her a natural leader and spokesperson for Today’s Parent.”

Emmons moves into the chair vacated by Karine Ewart, earlier this month as she moved up and over to become the editor-in-chief of the Rogers Media flagship Chatelaine.    

Deadline looms for KRW business-to-business media awards: final deadline Feb 14

The deadlines for the 60th annual Kenneth R. Wilson (KRW) Awards for the best in business media for the year 2013 are looming. Submissions are being accepted for awards in 25 categories, at submissions.krwawards.com

The early bird discount of $115 per entry (for most entries) is February 7 at midnight. The final deadline for all submissions is February 14, 2014. The regular fee (after February 7) is $135 per entry. See Guidelines for more information on eligibility and how to submit entries.

The KRW Awards program is open to all specialized business-to-business media written and produced in Canada in either English or French, regardless of association membership. Editorial staff, contributors, freelancers, designers and people engaged in co-operative efforts with the publication may enter. They do not need to be full-time employees of the publication or web site.

Note that the awards this year have a new address: Kenneth R. Wilson Awards, 2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1600,Toronto, ON, M4P 1E4

Briarpatch magazine investigation of uranium deal escalates with freedom of information claim

Refusal by a Saskatchewan village council to produce information sought as part of an investigation for Briarpatch magazine has resulted in the filing of a statement of claim under the The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It's fronted by two people, acting as individuals: Valerie Zink, until last year the editor and publisher of Briarpatch; and D'Arcy Hande, the journalist working on the story.

Briarpatch was trying to get information from the Village of Pinehouse about a controversial agreement between the village and two uranium mining companies, Cameco and Areva, in relation to approximately $200 million in mining contracts.

After pressing two freedom of information requests for the better part of year and despite support from the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner, who recommended the province consider prosecution, it was decided to file a statement of claim as individual citizens demanding that Mayor Mike Natomagan and the village comply with the act.

“Mayor Natomagan has had ample opportunity to comply with a straightforward request for documents pertaining to monies paid by Cameco and Areva,” says D’Arcy Hande.

“We know that Cameco and Areva have paid large amounts of money to the Village council and its subsidiary corporation, Pinehouse Business North,” says Valerie Zink. “Pinehouse residents deserve to know where these infusions of cash are going, and what strings are attached.”

Literary food journal Beer and Butter Tarts being launched in Toronto

A new, twice-a-year literary food journal called Beer and Butter Tarts is being launched this week in Toronto. Though its first issue came out in December, a launch party is being held on January 28 at The Rhino Restaurant & Bar (skylight room), 1249 Queen Street West.

The magazine contains essays, short fiction, poetry, photography and art and tells the stories of food in Canada, from coast to coast to coast.Beer and Butter Tarts costs $18 an issue in Canada. 

The journal springs out of a publishing enterprise called Stained Pages Press, which consisted of a 'zine started in 1994 by Greg Clow and Sheryl Kirby. It was distinguished by the fact that its pages were randomly marked by food stains (e.g. wine or coffee rings) so each issue was one of a kind. The other publication of SPP is Kitchen Party, a collection of food stories by Kirby. In addition to publishing, Clow and Kirby present the Toronto Indie Arts Market Small Press and Literary Festival.

[H/T Quill & Quire]

Cameron Williamson named EIC of Flare

Williamson

Cameron Williamson has been named the new editor-in-chief of Rogers's Flare magazine. He is moving over from being a freelance project editor for the Globe's Style Advisor and is returning to Rogers where he had previously been editor-in-chief of Glow magazine and art director of Chatelaine. 

Previous to that he was creative director of Toro and fashion editor at National Post and Saturday Night magazine. 

Williamson replaces Miranda Purves, who is moving back to the U.S. after 18 months in the editor's chair.                    

Scott Havens of The Atlantic to be MagNet conference kickoff speaker

M. Scott Havens

Magazines Canada has announced that M. Scott Havens, the president of The Atlantic, will be the 2014 kickoff speaker for MagNet 2014, the industry conference June 3 to 6 in Toronto. Each year the conference begins with a MagNet Marquee speaker. 

Come hear his story of how an internationally respected multi-platform media company bucked the downward trend to succeed in an increasingly fractured and competitive landscape. What's working and what's not? Where does the brand go next? Havens will answer these questions and more while he explores how the magazine industry can build sustainable businesses that will ensure great journalism not just survives, but thrives. Presented on June 3, 2014 by the Reader's Digest Foundation.

This year, following the Marquee, there will be a cocktail reception with a particular focus on celebrating the Quebec magazine industry, with appropriate food, wine and entertainment.

The Sunday Times magazine gets a makeover

"Bigger pictures -- less pictures, longer reads -- less bits."* 

Art director Matt Curtis, describing the complete redesign of The Sunday Times Magazine, the supplement to Britain's Sunday Times. The entire newspaper also received a makeover. 

 According to a post on Magculture.com, the wholly new look includes the new logo treatment in Tiempos (based on the classic Times New Roman by Stanley Morison) and Calibre, a new sans serif face created by Kris Sowersby. The Sunday Times magazine editor is Sarah Baxter and Jon Jones is director of photography.

Interesting to note that one of the three designers on the redesign team is Jessica Rose, the former art director of Toronto Life. 


*Minor quibble: Might this have been, correctly, fewer pictures and fewer bits? 

BCBusiness magazine devotes entire February issue to TED

The much-discussed TED Conference is making its base in Vancouver and at higher altitudes in Whistler for 2014 and 2015. BCBusiness magazine (pure coincidence, the recent spate of stories) is devoting its entire February issue to the inaugural, made-in-BC TED conference which starts in March. The magazine wangled exclusive access and filmed all of it for its iPad edition. Plus it got a one-on-one with Chris Anderson, the somewhat elusive TED founder.

"To quote our tech columnist Robert Lewis,[said Tom Gierasimczuk as editor -- before it was announced that Matt O'Grady was coming back] 'TED isn’t going to compare to, say, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. But it also won’t saddle the city with debt, inflate real estate prices and annoy businesses whose storefronts become inaccessible during, either. Without causing a ruckus, TED will help solidify Vancouver’s newly forming reputation as a real, hard-working city capable of punching above its weight.' ”

Para in Toronto Life February issue tries to clarify article about sexual assaults on York U campus

[This post has been updated]

[Update: York University says now that it settled with Toronto Life in December. Here is the paragraph that Joanne Rider, York's, chief spokesperson and director of media relations sent in response to seeing this post:

CORRECTION 
York University confirms that it has agreed to the dismissal of its action against Toronto Life in a settlement achieved in December 2013. A statement made to Excalibur newspaper by the University this week erred in omitting this information. The parties have now complied with their obligations under the settlement.]   

The February issue of Toronto Life magazine on newsstands now contains a one-paragraph "clarification" about its October article "Fortress York". The article, by freelance writer Katherine Laidlaw, suggested that young women students on the York University campus lived in fear of sexual assault; a secondary cover line on the issue asked "Why are there so many rapes at York U?" 

York last September said that it intended to pursue the magazine for defamation. It's not known if these two carefully constructed sentences will mollify the university An article this week in Excalibur, York University's community newspaper, suggests perhaps it won't; it says York was standing its ground and will continue to pursue a suit against the author and the publication. York University spokesperson Joanne Rider told the paper

“There is no change in the status of the university’s legal action at the present time.” 

John Intini named EIC of Sportsnet magazine

John Intini

John Intini has been named editor-in-chief of Sportsnet magazine. Editor since last September, Intini takes over the role previously held by Steve Maich before he was named senior vice-president and general manager of publishing at Rogers Media. Maich made the announcement of Intini's appointment.

"As the sports and publishing industries continue to evolve, having someone with John's knowledge and passion at the helm is crucial in helping the brand thrive," said Maich [in a release]. "John has been a key contributor to Sportsnet's growth since day one, and I'm confident that under his leadership the magazine will continue to reach new levels of success and will engage, inform and entertain readers like never before."

Sportsnet was launched in 2011 and Intini was deputy editor from the start. He had previously been managing editor of Macleans.ca and then senior editor of Maclean's, where he had worked for 11 years in various writing and editing roles.

All is forgiven? -- Matt O'Grady once again to be editor of BCBusiness

[This post has been updated] Matt O'Grady is being welcomed back to Canada Wide Media's BCBusiness magazine as its editor, starting Monday. This was,curiously, revealed by a tweet from publisher Peter Legge. O'Grady had  resigned on principle from the magazine in 2011 over Legge's spiking of an investigative story. O'Grady then worked briefly for the Globe and Mail's Report on Business magazine and as executive editor of Canadian Business before returning to the Globe as its BC bureau chief, a job from which he was laid off last summer.

The decision to lure him back may have had something to do with a reorganization related to the departure of Gary Davies as publisher (who returned to Calgary) and the need for an experienced hand on the tiller at BCB, backstopping Tom Gierasimcsuk, who had been named vice-president, editorial of Canada Wide and was stickhandling the launch of BCLiving magazine. [Update: Gierasimcsuk is now the publisher of BCBusiness.] 

Mag world view: New Track; high paywall; print pays for digital; "forever stamps"; GMG sells Trader; new Town & Country

• F+W Media buys New Track Media (Folio:)
• Capital N.Y. is rolling out a nearly $6,000 annual paywall (AdWeek)
• UK's Radio Times seeks to fuel digital success with print profits (Guardian)
• U.S. "forever" stamps: consumers may hoard them this week but stop buying next year (Dead Tree Edition)
• Guardian Media Group to sell 50.1% stake in Trader Media Group (Guardian)
• Town & Country crossing the pond with UK edition (Folio:)

Quote, unquote: It's not being there, it's what you do when you arrive

"I have a theme this year, which might be strange coming from someone who runs a fulfillment company, but I think we’re going to start remembering we’re in business because we generate great content that large numbers of consumers find provocative, compelling and worth paying for. I think we need to focus less on the distribution mechanisms. It’s not so much about being there, it’s really about what do you deliver once you’re there."

-- Malcolm Netburn, chairman and CEO of CDS Global in a sponsored Q & A in Folio: [note: CDS Global advertises on Canadian Magazines]

Canadian Media Guild seeking liftoff for freelance branch

The Canadian Media Guild has, at last, created CMG Freelance, a voluntary freelance
branch (as distinguished from freelancers who work under omnibus contracts such as with the CBC). Accommodating and meeting the priorities of freelancers is something CMG has been pondering for some time. It said in a recent posting on Story Board:

"We’ve concentrated on figuring out how we, as a union, can adapt to the growing self-employed workforce that deals with multiple engagers, and provide practical and effective supports to individuals and groups."

What they've come up with is a voluntary membership of $150 a year, by which all freelance writers, journalists, consultants and self-employed workers in all media, creative, communications, IT and knowledge sectors may be represented and have services provided to them. These services include a dedicated website, educational workshops, a member directory, savings on smart phone plans, credit card and insurance rates and an affordable group health plan. They are working on creating "contracts that mean what they say...and say what they mean". The project has been guided by organizer Datejie Green since last September.

The CMG, which is a local of CWA/SCA Canada, a division of the Communications Workers of America,  represents 6,000 workers in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada (CBC/SRC), The Canadian Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), TVO, TFO, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (aptn), ZoomerMedia, Shaw Media and CKOI Radio Gatineau (Québec). And, now, media freelancers.

"It’s increasingly clear that this type of membership will be a major aspect of the union movement in the future as we seek to also represent workers who do not have permanent ongoing jobs," says the CMG.  "A growing amount of media work is being done independently by freelancers or in workplaces that are too small for a traditional bargaining unit structure.  

There continues to be a Canadian Freelance Union, which is a chapter of the mega-union Unifor (formed last fall by the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Unions. Originally under the auspices of the CEP, the CFU has long had many of the same organizing goals as the CMG, including representing new groups of workers -- the growing numbers of individuals in media (and other sectors) who work on contract or freelance.

Related posts:

• Canadian Media Guild and Canadian Writers Group align to represent freelancers
• Freelancer reaches settlement with Rogers over posting of peanut allergy story
• Canadian Freelance Union announces Toronto meeting
• Canadian Media Guild slams Citizen's moral rights grab in freelance contracts
• Canadian Freelance Union to hold inaugural meeting October 3
• Canadian Freelance Union: a lamentably long time coming

Vancouver magazine unveils redesign

Vancouver magazine has unveiled a cover-to-cover redesign in its January/February issue now on newsstands. 

"We’ve all been at that stage in a relationship: you love each other but you can’t help think it wouldn’t kill your other half to hit the gym once in a while," said the magazine in a release. "With the freshly redesigned issue, Vancouver magazine has done more than attend the occasional yoga drop-in.  It has trained for a marathon.  

” 'Readers will be thrilled to see the sophisticated design and new content', said Lori Chalmers, Publisher of Vancouver magazine and Western Living. 'In particular, an increased focus on food and wine reflects our readers’ passion and interests, and affirms our position as the city’s premier consumer magazine.' ”

Food and drink coverage and the popular designing section has been moved forward. There is an inreased emphasis on food and wine and  nearly every page is signposted and the content is delivered in three sections: 

• The Brief introduces more real estate coverage and takes on the month’s leading stories and story makers. Politics, sports, the arts, business — it’s a highly curated, unique, opinionated filter of the best (and the worst) the city has to offer.
• The Dish covers Vancouver’s restaurants and bars, with added suggestions for nights at home (as one example, check out a lifesize King crab on pg. 36 of the January/February issue, with recipes.) Readers come to Vanmag for food—now the culinary section is even more enticing.
• The Goods is a new section reporting on shopping, travel, health and fitness, and style.

Reader's Digest unveils completely redesigned magazine

Reader's Digest has been completely redesigned, right down to a lower-case "d" and a front-to-back rethink of many of the magazine's features and departments. It is offering a free digital issue of the magazine for those who would like to check it out. Editor Robert Goyette explains:

"You’ve probably already noticed our fresh cover look, but in fact, the entire magazine has undergone a redesign. We asked what you liked best about Reader’s Digest and we’re happy to unveil a makeover to enhance your reading experience. From a new logo that emphasizes the “Reader” to an expanded selection of stories, this redesign is tailored to the people who told us they love our content and want more of it. We’re bringing you more tales to make you laugh or cry, more deep reads that motivate you to think and take action, more fun and more inspiration. And to make the type easier to read and the pages easier to turn, we’ve picked a white, thicker paper."

Among other things, rather than cluster together all the jokes and humour for which the magazine is well-known, these have now, again, been spread throughout the issue.

Modern Dog creates memorial web page for treasured pets

Vancouver's Modern Dog magazine has established a page on its website that allows dog owners to memorialize their departed pets. Using their free account with the magazine, owners can post a picture and text and find articles and resources that help to cope with the loss of a beloved pet. 

Joyce Byrne moves to be publisher at Avenue Calgary

Joyce Byrne, the long time second-in-command of Edmonton's Venture Publishing is moving to become publisher of Redpoint Media's Avenue Calgary.

Transcon Printing shuts down three presses and lets 130 people go

Transcontinental Printing has let 90 employees go and shut down two web presses at its huge Aurora, ON printing plant. According to a story on the PrintCAN site, published by Graphic Monthly Canada, the cutbacks were "driven by market conditions and excess production capacity," said Jennifer McCaughey, senior director of investor relations and corporate external communications. 

Forty further layoffs are occurring in Edmonton, where one press is scheduled for dismantling. 

Transcontinental is Canada's largest printer and the fourth largest in North America and its media division is one of the largest publishers of consumer magazines in the country. 

Mag world view: B&N Nooked; putting mojo back in Billboard; print is digital's future; tab ends

• B&N: Flat Bookstore Sales Overshadowed by Grim NOOK Returns (Folio:)
• Can Hollywood Reporter saviour Min put the mojo back into Billboard? (Guardian)
• Southern Living Partners Up for New Vertical (Folio:)
• Personalised digital magazine app Flipboard aims for 150 million users (Guardian) 
• Print IS the future of digital in 14 points (Mr. Magazine)
• The end of tabloid papers and the new quest for media respectability (paidContent)
• Alastair Campbell succeeds Piers Morgan at GQ (Media Week)

TC Media vice-president and group publisher Caroline Andrews suddenly left the company

[This post has been updated] Caroline Andrews, the vice-president and group publisher, consumer solutions for TC Media's eastern and western magazines,left the company yesterday. There has not been a public announcement. 

[Update: a memo to staff today from Carlos Lamadrid, senior vice president, consumer solutions says that all reports to Andrews will now be made to him, pending finding a replacement. Text below*.]

Since 2007 when she joined the magazine division, she had progressively added publishing responsibilities for more and more titled. From being responsible for The Hockey News and TV Guide, she added Style at Home and Canadian Gardening in 2009, Western Living and Vancouver magazine in May 2012 (when the publisher and editorial director were dismissed and she was promoted to vice-president) and then Canadian Living and Elle Canada December 2012. 

*Internal memo to staff, Jan 14:

NOTICE OF DEPARTURE 

To: Employees of TC Media (25 Sheppard, 1100 René-Lévesque, Totem), TC MediaSenior Management CommitteeCc: Executive Management Committee and Managers, TC TranscontinentalFrom: Carlos Lamadrid, Senior Vice President, Consumer Solutions  

Date:January 14, 2014

Subject: Notice of Departure – Caroline Andrews 

I am announcing that Caroline Andrews, Vice President and Group Publisher, Consumer Solutions, Toronto and Vancouver, is leaving the organization as of today and will turn her attention to new professional challenges. Until the position is filled, all managers who were reporting to Caroline will now report to me.Caroline has been a passionate leader within the organization since she joined in 1997. She first took the position of Director for all our Ontario newspapers and subsequently moved to Nova Scotia in 2004 where she transitioned and developed a turnaround strategy for 11 newspapers acquired by Transcontinental. In 2007, she took the position of VP and Group Publisher, Sports, Home, Entertainment and Western titles, then in December 2012, she took on new responsibilities, adding Canadian Livingand Elle Canada to her brand portfolio. 

On behalf of the organization, I would like to thank her for her many years with us and wish her the best of success in her future endeavours. 

Carlos Lamadrid 

Related posts:

• Canadian Living refreshes its look, logo and content
• Publishing changes at TC Media: Andrews handles consumer; Chambers handles custom
• Major shakeup at Transcon Media

Atlantic Business marks 25th anniversary with lunches and launches

Atlantic Business magazine is marking its 25th anniversary (making it the longest-publishing regional business magazine in Atlantic Canada) with a series of concurrent luncheons in St. John's, Halifax and Moncton on Wednesday 15th. Details of the magazine's redesign will be revealed as well as the magazine's Super Start-Up Program, by which 25 aspiring Atlantic Canada entrepreneurs will be provided with start-up funding of $2,500 and 25 hours of mentoring. 

New editor of People magazine wants to inject more humour

Jess Cagle

The new editor of People magazine says he sees it as the "morning show of magazines". 

"It's one of those few places where you can cover celebrities, politics, human interest stories and more," said Jess Cagle, who had been managing editor of Entertainment Weekly and was named Friday to succeed Larry Hackett as People's top editor.

AdAge reported that Cagle will be overseeing all People's print and digital efforts but will serve in a newly created position as editorial director of Entertainment Weekly. Asked what he wants to change at the flagship publication, he said:

"One thing I can say is maybe do it all with more humor. How do you add humor? How do you make it more entertaining? That's one thing I know I want to add. It's something we can do in the magazine and online and with the many brand extensions we want to create down the line."

The story said People last year accounted for 20% of all revenue of the parent company Time Inc.

St. Joseph Communications launches branded content venture

Douglas Kelly: "turning brands into
multi-platform publishers"

St. Joseph Communications, the publishers of Toronto Life magazine, today ramped up its involvement in the creation of branded content with the launch of a new venture called Strategic Content Labs, headed by Douglas Kelly, former publisher and editor-in-chief of the National Post.

Tony Gagliano, the executive chairman and CEO of St. Joseph said : 

“Content marketing has become a significant component of the marketing mix required to reach and engage consumers in today’s digital reality. It is now a multi-billion dollar category in North America and we see a huge opportunity here.”

The relatively recent developments in closely integrating advertising and marketing messages with traditional editorial (hence "native advertising"),  is exemplified by the creation of this content development and professional services group. (It has also resulted in adoption of sometimes baffling new jargon):

“In this quickly changing media, marketing and communications landscape, it is becoming increasingly clear that relevant and engaging content channeled to a targeted audience helps build and deepen the relationship between a brand and its community,’’ said Kelly [in a release].  “Through best-in-class content, we aim to turn brands into multi-platform publishers and audiences into brand loyalists.’’

“Strategic Content Labs will lead St. Joseph’s entry into this quickly expanding space," said Douglas Knight, the president of St. Joseph's Media Group. "Leveraging our publishing ecosystem insights and award-winning storytelling expertise, under Douglas Kelly’s leadership, we will help marketers, associations and governments achieve measureable results through the adoption of a brand-as-publisher approach to engaging audiences with compelling content.”

“It all starts”, said Kelly, “with listening to our clients and their customers and creating a mix of content distributed and curated across the social spectrum, web and traditional media, supported by state-of-the-art measurement tools to drive measureable results.”

Magazine distributor Benjamin News is closing down by April

Benjamin News Group, which has been in the magazine and book distribution business for almost 100 years, will close down in April. The family-owned business, which is based in Bois des Filions, Quebec, was founded in 1917 by Charlie Benjamin, a blind news vendor who sold newspapers on Notre Dame Street in Montreal and whose grandson Paul made the announcement. The closure will result in 225 people losing their jobs.

"Quebec is probably the most expensive market in North America to distribute magazines and books. It has the lowest density,” [Benjamin] told CTV Montreal. “The sale of the printed word, especially magazines, has decreased radically."

He said that a variety of deals had been made to allow other companies to take over his distribution to 7,500 retailers in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. Benjamin handles over 4,000 magazine titles. 

Geist magazine postcard stories contest in its 10th year

Contest and competition season is here, marked by many deadlines. One perennial event is celebrating its 10th anniversary: the Geist annual literal literary postcard story contest. the organizers like to characterize it as Canada's favourite writing contest, offering fame and cash prizes. 

The rules are simple: Send a  maximum 500-word story on a postcard, so long as there is a clear connection between the image and the story. Entries must be postmarked no later than Feb 1, 2014. First prize is $500, second $250, third $150. Winners are published in Geist and the $20 entry fee includes a one-year subscription. 

GQ to launch branded barbershop

Branded retail stores, coffee shops, cars and bars, now barbershops? GQ, the men's fashion title, is opening the "first ever" GQ Barbershop on Friday at Brooklyn's Barclay's Center. 

According to a story in AdAge, the shop is being launched in partnership with Fellow Barber, a hipster shaving emporium, and will offer everything from a simple $10 "cleanup" to a shave and a haircut for $75. The Barclays Center is the arena where the basketball Nets play.

Karine Ewart shifts from Today's Parent to be EIC of Chatelaine

Rogers Media has reached out to one of its other major titles to name Karine Ewart, until now the editor-in-chief of Today's Parent, to be the editor-in-chief of flagship Chatelaine, effective next week. A release quoted Steve Maich, senior vice-president and GM of Publishing at Rogers Media saying of her

"Karine is one of Canada's best magazine editors. She has a deep and intuitive sense of what readers want and need, and she has a deep passion for the place Chatelaine holds in the hearts of Canadian women."

Ewart joined Today's Parent in 2011, having started in the business as an assistant editor at Harper's Bazaar in New York and later holding various editorial positions at Fashion magazine, including features editor and editor-in-chief of the late Fashion18.  

"I am truly honoured to be selected to lead such an iconic brand, one that resides in the hearts of so many Canadian women," said Ewart. "I look forward to building on the momentum Chatelaine is currently experiencing, leading the wonderful team there and nurturing the strong relationship Chatelaine has developed with its audiences."

Ewart replaces Jane Franciso, who left in November to become editor-in-chief of Hearst Media's Good Housekeeping. 

Canadian Cover Awards deadline is January 31

Entries are open for the 2014 Canadian Cover Awards/Grand prix canadiens - Meilleur. The awards -- produced by the Circulation Management Association of Canada and Magazines Canada, with the support of marketing sponsor Covers Sell and design sponsor K9 Design Co. -- celebrate the top selling covers and recognize their importance for Canadian single copy sales. There are seven award categories and the deadline is January 31. [Awards hashtag#CoverAwards14.]

Nominations are also open for the Newsstand Marketer of the Year Award. 

Winners will be announced February 25 at a reception at the Courtyard Downtown in Toronto. 

Mag world view: Ad Age slims down; Sesame Street back in print; Gun mags boom; Use that tweet!; NYT social media lessons

• Ad Age cuts frequency in half (Folio:)
• Cross-platform magazine advertising up 6 per cent (Folio:)
• Sesame Street Magazine Returns to Print… (Mr. Magazine)
• The Rupert Murdoch era is all but over' (Guardian)
• Gun mags see boosts in circulation, newsstand sales (Ad Age)
• Comics and film magazine Tripwire moves from print to digital with app launch (Press Gazette)
• Marie Claire deputy Charlotte Moore steps up to editor at InStyle (Press Gazette)
• Go ahead, use that tweet: no one can stop you! (paidContent)
• If a tweet worked once, send it again — and other lessons from The New York Times’ social media desk (Nieman Journalism Lab)

Quote, unquote: Putting paid to paid internships

“The crux of the matter is: if internships had to be paid, ours would just go away.”

-- The Walrus's executive director and co-publisher Shelley Ambrose, quoted in an interesting article on J-source.ca about the state of internships in Canadian magazines.

Hearst Magazines president David Carey predicts bracing, but successful 2014

Hearst Magazines saw double-digit increases in digital ad revenue in 2013 and expects it and new print products to account for more than 30% of the company's profits in 2014, according to a letter to staff from president David Carey. 

"I know that working in the media business today is very exciting and intellectually stimulating, but far from easy [he said]: There are challenging days filled with tough decisions, as well as days of triumph and celebration."

The upbeat letter reported on recent strides and predicted more good times.

• Food Network Magazine is now the second best selling monthly magazine, “with more than 11.6 million readers and the No. 1 share of advertising.”
• HGTV Magazine, which debuted only a year ago, has a circulation of 1.2 million.
• Dr. Oz’s magazine, The Good Life, launches next month. Carey described it as “lively, smart and surprising.”
• Cosmopolitan.com had more than 20 million unique visitors in December.
• Carey said in the second quarter of this year, a “shared user experience for both Cosmopolitan.com and ELLE.com” will launch.

Quote, unquote: The adaptable magazine business

"For several years, pundits have predicted that traditional magazine publishers would soon go the way of newspapers, shriveling up from massive losses of advertising, circulation, and profitability. But 2013 proved them wrong. Magazines – or, rather, “magazine media” – are adapting better to the web and are finding growth in such fields as events and services. Some had banner years for their print products, with increased ad pages and even some expanded ratebases. Meanwhile, one of the nation’s most storied newspapers was so diminished in value that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was able to buy it with some spare change he had lying around."

-- Dead Tree Edition, as part of its roundup of perceived media trends

Melony Ward becomes Toronto-based publisher of Canada's History and Kayak

Melony Ward, formerly the executive publisher of Azure and Designlines magazines and before that, from 2000 to 2011 publisher and executive director of Canadian Art magazine, has been appointed as publisher of Canada's History magazine, effective February 1. 

Ward will be responsible for overseeing advertising sales, circulation and marketing for both Canada's History and the children's history magazine Kayak. Working with president and CEO Deborah Morrison, according to a release, she will be developing strategies to extends the magazine brands and build new revenue streams. She will continue to be based in Toronto.

Canada's History has a paid circulation of 32,000 and PMB-measured reach of 965,000 readers or 25 readers per copy. Kayak has a paid English circulation of 8,000 and extended controlled distribution to 32,000 French subscribers through a partnership with the Quebec-based Les Débrouillards magazine. 

Ward has been a director of Magazines Canada and served as treasurer for two years and as cultural magazines chair for three. She has also been an industry advisor for the Ontario Media Development Corporation.   

Quote, unquote: Print leading to a different experience

“There is something about having that large expanse of real estate in your lap, something about the format, that is extremely satisfying. Having many different things you may be interested in on a page, as opposed to a single thing surrounded by ads as it is on the web, leads to the formation of different connections and leads to a different experience.”

-- Kevin Kelly, the founding executive editor of Wired, talking about Cool Tools, an oversized 472-page print catalogue repurposed from material he had already published online. Quoted by David Carr of the New York Times. 

ACE Awards renamed CMC Awards; scholarship and lifetime awards to change

The Circulation Marketing Association of Canada (CMC) has decided to make some changes to its awards and scholarship programs. The former ACE Awards will now be called the CMC Awards. The Caren King Scholarship will now be called the CMC Scholarship Award and will have its amount increased to $5,000 from $3,000. The Terri De Rose Memorial Award has not been formally renamed, but probably will be. It is given in collaboration with the Chang School at Ryerson University. 

The former Marketer of the Year Awards will be henceforth called the CMC Lifetime Achievement Award and it and other CMC Awards will continue to be presented at the CMC's annual luncheon held in conjunction with the MagNet industry conference in June. 

Color, the skateboarding lifestyle magazine ceases printing

Color magazine, the Vancouver-based title which has focussed on skateboard culture for 10 years, has announced it is taking "an extended hiatus from traditional methods", ceasing printing. It will be moving forward in other, unspecified, ways to bolster coverage of skateboarding.

"Fourcorner Publishing Inc. recognizes that the legacy Color Magazine leaves behind would not be made possible without the support from its loyal advertisers and devout readership, but Color wasn’t conceived for the purpose of doing business, it was always a passion for the publisher who was consistently inspired and motivated by the people who helped put it all together."

Back issues of the magazine will be available at two shows in Long Beach, California, later this week and in Vancouver the week after.

Founder/producer Alessandro Grison said:

“Color has been a dream for me… The magazine gave me the opportunity to sit and get to know so many of my heros and experience things I never thought I would in my lifetime. It opened my eyes to a world outside of my own as I hope it did for others.I may have received back just as much as we gave [while making the magazine]—which was always all of ourselves. I am forever grateful for the amazing people I met and got the opportunity to work with over the years. I’m thankful to walk away enriched by memorable experiences”.

According to the magazine's website, the idea for the magazine transpired in September 2002 "between two out-of-work artists in an East Vancouver apartment building.  Sandro Grison and David Christian sought to explore and accurately depict skateboard culture, and the things that inspired those within it."

The year that was: A ramble through some of 2013's posts about Canadian magazines

There are many words to describe 2013 in the Canadian magazine industry: celebration; chagrin; optimism; even amusement. Each year at this time we select some of the stories that the Canadian Magazines blog has published. Our little New Year's gift to you is an opportunity to recall some of the things that made it worthwhile, and occasionally nerve-wracking, to be part of this business. One thing that's clear: it's never been boring. 

January

• Globe weekend editor joins Canadian Business to handle special projects
• Free daily tonight is acquired by Annex Business Media and converts to weekly
• New fashion quarterly called GRAY launching in Vancouver
• Reader's Digest publishes major takeout on BC pipeline and tanker perils
• BPA changes, consolidates rules for digital editions
• Zoomer magazine launches "super site"

February

• Amazon discontinues its recently launched Canadian online newsstand
• ELLE (Canada and Quebec) share model Jessica Paré for March covers
• New Transcon freelance contract even more demanding 
• Canada Council's Flying Squad program to no longer be offered, at least in present form
• Toronto Life launching paid event series called "Love Your City"
• Dogs in Canada to publish again,in partnership with Globe and Mail

March

• Briarpatch magazine article looks closely at farmland speculators
• Time Warner to spin off print titles to separate company, rather than do Meredith deal
• Annual Charles Oberdorf Memorial Award endowed with help from his friends and family
• Fab, the "gay scene" magazine is closing just shy of 20 years of publication
• Toronto Life offering restaurants and bars ability to write own paid advertising listings
• Reader's Digest still #1 in PMB for readers; Canada's History tops in RPC
• Quebec magazine association cancels this year's awards to focus on fighting Blue Box fees

April

• Breaking cover rules pays off for East Coast Living
• Cute kids, but should a magazine's cover be the prize in a sponsored contest?
• Blue Ant to launch TV specialty channel Cottage Life
• Walmart Live Better launched as Canada's largest circulation title
• Canopy forest campaign withdraws from Boreal Forest agreement, citing no meaningful progress
• Dear City: Spacing and Pattison to post billboard love letters
• Stephen Trumper to receive this year's NMAF Outstanding Achievement Award

May

• Western awards honour Paul and Audrey Grescoe for a lifetime of magazine achievement
• Summer Brick gives away the endings of writers' favourite books
• Darlene Storey named Magazines Canada's volunteer of the year
• Holmes Group says it can't afford to compensate subscribers
• Online magazine Covet Garden asking readers to contribute to print SIP
• Ontario Arts Council literature officer lasted less than two months in the job
• Maclean's cover story reports on "slow motion implosion" of Toronto mayor Rob Ford

June

• Calgary's Avenue magazine asking its readers to come  up with a new gelato flavour
• Cottage Life editor Penny Caldwell named CSME Editor of the Year
• Oxygen publisher RKP abruptly filed for bankruptcy, suspends business
• A rogue shows his gallery-- Mac Parry 
• Readers win when magazines make combined subscription offers
• Magazines Canada white paper reports on the future direction of B2B publishing

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