Photos from Jasper

Back from Jasper for the Alberta Library Conference 2008.

Highlight of the event for me was when a conference attendee said that we were her "favourite booth in the trade show." We gave free samples of magazines, sold subscriptions, and generally wowed libraries with our good looks and charm. And by "good looks and charm" I really mean free swag. Hey, whatever works right?

Check out our Alberta Library Conference pics here.

Oh, and foodie tidbit: next time you go to Jasper, be sure to check out Bear's Paw Bakery. The cheese buns are to-die-for!

Canada Post gets reviewed

The below is taken from Canadian Magazines' blog, posted by D.B. Scott:

In an announcement that may have implications for the magazine industry in this country, the federal government has launched a limited review of Canada Post. The Minister responsible for Canada Post, Lawrence Cannon, announced the appointment of a three-member independent advisory panel, headed by Dr. Robert Campbell, President of Mount Allison University.

It is to complete its review by December 2008. Interested parties are asked to submit their comments by September 2, 2008. The review is limited to consultations with key stakeholder groups (like magazine associations) and receiving individual briefs. There are no plans for cross-country hearings.

The review focuses on four areas:

• market and competition;
  
• public policy objectives and responsibilities;
  
• commercial activities; and
  
• financial and performance targets.
  

The review is to be guided by four, key principles:

• Canada Post will not be privatized and will remain a Crown corporation;
• Canada Post must maintain a universal, effective and economically viable postal service;
• Canada Post will continue to act as an instrument of public policy through the provision of postal services to Canadians; and
• Canada Post will continue to operate in a commercial environment and is expected to attain a realistic rate of return on equity.

Magazines Canada and other interested observers have expressed concern that CPC has wandered too far from its policy responsibilities in recent years. This is particularly true for magazines. Large postal rate increases in recent years and its abandonment of the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) have demonstrated a disregard for its continuing public policy responsibilities, the organization said.

Interns exploited

According to a story in the Press Gazette, young UK journalists who work in magazines, newspapers, and broadcasters are being exploited, often working in unpaid positions for months at a time. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for the UK and Ireland, is threatening to single out companies named in the survey of 644 journalists.

Some survey results:
- 43.7 percent said they were given clear support and guidance during their work placement
- 56.3 percent said they received limited help during their work placement

- Of 42.7 percent who were told an internship could lead to a permanent job, only 24.1 percent were hired on.

An internship through AMPA and an AMPA member magazine guarantees that interns are paid minimum wage. Interested interns can check out our internship guidelines.
We urge all magazine publishers, whether in Alberta or elsewhere, to pay their interns a fair wage.

Jasper a callin'

The AMPA team is heading to Jasper on Thursday, April 24th, for the 2008 Alberta Library Conference. 700 to 900 delegates from libraries from across the province will be in attendance for the four-day conference held at the picturesque Jasper Park Lodge.

The conference boasts a gamut of networking opportunities for library professionals (including wine-tasting and a dance), two keynote speakers, over 30 session speakers, and of course, a trade-show component where AMPA will be featuring Alberta Magazines. With over 55 member magazines representing everything from cowboys, to real women on the run, to wine, there really is something for everyone.

Quebecor World inks Rolling Stone, Us Weekly

Rolling Stone, US Weekly, and Men's Journal of Wenner Media group, are the latest bids won by Quebecor World. As a result, Quebecor's shares were up 14.6% on Monday.

This is good news for Quebecor, who announced the loss of Roger's publications contract to rival Transcontinental.

According to Forbes.com, Quebecor has become the exclusive printer of the both Rolling Stone and Men's Journal. A million copies of US Weekly will be printed, per week.

When You Want It: Digital World Growing

The digital revolution is gaining speed as it's importance is being recognized by even traditional media outlets. No doubt it is the new way of communicating--it's instant, convenient, and quite simply, the future.

Quoted from DB Scott at Magazines Canada blog:

The reason the digital world is growing is simply that it's better for people, says Digitas chairman/CEO David Kenny said . Speaking at the conference of the Canadian Media Directors Council (quoted in Media in Canada), he said:"You already know the most important part of this in order to be great digital executives - whether that's media planners or buyers or clients - is understanding human beings.

"They can get what they want, when they want it, how they want it," Kenny continued. "They can get ads that are relevant to them and ignore the ones that aren't. In the past, we'd just throw money at it and buy our way into their hearts and minds.

April SNOW. Huh?

It's 3:30 right now, and it was sunny about 30 minutes ago. Two hours ago, the sun was shining and I was cursing the massive puddles down 17th Avenue. Now? The view from our office is a snow-globe gone insane. Drastic weather changes every hour. Blizzards in April. Forecast for 20 degrees Celsius in two days. Ha!

Only in Calgary.

Killer Blogs

In a fate not likely to befall this blogger, the Telegraph reports that blogs are causing deaths. It appears that:

"The strain of keeping up with a 24-hour news cycle, the sense of guilt when [bloggers] are parted from their keyboards, has caused heart-attacks."

So whoever thinks that blogging isn't tough work should probably re-think that...

-Anh

Western Horse Review gets Boost from the Government

Western Horse Review, an Alberta magazine that caters to riders across Canada, has received $36, 124 in funding from Canadian Heritage.

The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today announced financial support for Western Horse Review, published by Dakota Design and Advertising Limited, a magazine publishing company located in Calgary, Alberta.

Dakota Design and Advertising will receive $36,124 in funding to help offset the costs of producing this magazine with high levels of Canadian editorial content.
Read more...

tomorrow you'll learn to print!

Don't forget that Transcontinental's printing refresher course takes place tomorrow, at the Sheraton Eau Claire in Calgary at 3:30pm. AMPA will be there. We hope you are too!

Here are the details again...

April 3, 2008

The Ehs, Bs & Cs of Printing
A seminar that demystifies the print production process, presented by Transcontinental

Thursday April 3, 2008

Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire, Calgary, AB
3:30-5:30 Seminar with Richard Goldsmith
5:30-7:30 Cocktail Reception
Admission: Free

Please register here.

DEMYSTIFYING PRINT PRODUCTION - A Refresher Course
… from pixels to paper, and everything in between

A training seminar designed to clear up the whole printing process, from ink-based to digital printing technologies geared to Art Directors, Project Coordinators, Print Managers and Assistants, Printing and Graphics Representatives, Buyers, and Graphic Designers.

• Increase your overall knowledge of print production
• Learn important tips to make your production run smoothly
• Clear the printing jargon once and for all
• Learn to make the right choices
• Get up-to-date on the digital technologies
• Avoid costly mistakes, learn to ask the right questions

About the Speaker
Richard Goldsmith - Chairman, The Horah Group
Dick Goldsmith has been in the printing industry for more than 25 years. He is the chairman of The Horah Group, a full-service, print production management and marketing services company he founded 1981 in New York City, and chairman of Horah Direct, a direct marketing creative agency founded in 1997.

Dick is the author of Direct Mail for Dummies and has had numerous articles published in Target Marketing and Circulation Management magazines. He has received the Joseph Fiedler Fellowship Award from the Printing House Craftsmen of NY for distinctive service in further education within the graphics arts industry. He has also received the Silver Apple Award from The Direct Marketing Club of New York.

A well-known, informative, and entertaining speaker throughout North America, Dick has presented at numerous DMA Annual Conferences, AMA Conferences, and the Circulation Management Conferences to mention a few.

Transcontinental LGM tel: 403-262-1464
www.transcontinental-printing.com
renato.casello@transcontinental.ca