Alberta Magazines

The Latest AMPA Gossip: Your January 2012 Water-Cooler Update

2012-01-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

The cold-snap may be behind us, but there's no denying that it's still winter out there. So why not warm up with a cuppa joe and catch up on the latest chatter in the Alberta magazine world? And as always, if you have any news to share, drop me a line!

Change is the Name of the Game at Avenue

Life-changing events abound in the Avenue world. Calgary editor Käthe Lemon is expecting her first baby this June with her husband, Tyler. No word on whether it’s a boy or girl—they’re waiting to be surprised when baby arrives! Excited for a new playmate for my Annabel!

Similarly, Edmonton editor Steven and his wife, Noelle, are pregnant with their second child due in June. Edmonton associate editor Omar Mouallem will also tie the knot to his fiancée, Janae, on June 23 with a honeymoon in Beirut to follow. There, he will introduce his new bride to his grandmother and see Lebanon through fresh eyes. Congrats to all on their upcoming celebrations!

As for changes on the Calgary Avenue staffing front, longtime web editor Tony Charron has moved on to a position at Critical Mass, while former senior editor Jesse Semko has joined the Chamber of Commerce.

Other changes at RedPoint Media include former managing editor of corporate publications and special projects, Abby Miller, moving to accounting firm Meyers Norris Penney to work on an in-house magazine. Former up! managing editor Adam Trinh has gone freelance while his replacement, former Calgary Herald Neighbours editor Pam Fieber will soon join the team.

Where Calgary Editor Bids Cowtown Farewell

Where Calgary’s Laura Pellerine wrapped up her last day on the job December 30, after working her way up from AMPA intern to top editor. She and husband, Ryan, made a cross-country move to Montreal where Ryan will be working with one of the top 10 marketing firms in Canada. Laura will work out her freelance chops while sussing out a new permanent position, and is contemplating starting up her own blog. All the best to Laura in la belle province!

And welcome to Ian Doig, former FFWD news editor, who has taken over for Laura at Where.

airdrielife Publisher Proven Influencer
It’s little surprise to anyone who knows Sherry Shaw-Froggatt that she ranked first in the Airdrie Echo newspaper’s list of Most Influential People of 2011. Not only does she publish airdrielife, she’s also a keystone in the community founding the Creative Airdrie Society, and is the brains behind the ARTember festival and Amazing Airdrie Women Awards. I’ve always enjoyed working with Sherry—she’s a giver and a doer; two attributes that I greatly respect. She’s contributed ideas, elbow grease and talent to many AMPA events including the Alberta Magazines Conference. Kudos to Sherry for this well-deserved recognition.

Potential New UK Adventures for Zalewski

An uncorroborated Facebook post indicates that the former publisher at JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group and former AMPA Prez, Agnes Zalewski may be heading across the pond to the UK for a new job in publishing. Zalewski has not officially confirmed or denied the statement, only that she’s “looking at going over for six months initially on contract to see how all the pieces fit.” In the meantime, she can be found yoga-ing like crazy.

--- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Magazine Writing and Editing: February Events

2012-01-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

Editorial Insight from Canadian Geographic Editor

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association presents Crafting the Perfect Pitch (webinar) and Feature Writing: An Editor’s Perspective (seminars) with the managing editor of Canadian Geographic, Dan Rubinstein:

Crafting the Perfect Pitch

February 2, 10:00-11:00am, online

Feature Writing: An Editor’s Perspective

Calgary
February 2, 1:30-3:00pm, Memorial Park Library

Edmonton
February 3, 9:30-11:00am, Stanley Milner Library (6 flr, Rm 7)

Learn more about Editorial Insight events

Get Your Grammar On with Frances Peck

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, in partnership with the Editors' Association of Canada—Prairie Provinces Branch, presents Grammar Boot Camp (webinar) and Sentences with Style (seminars) with renowned editor, author and speaker Frances Peck:

Grammar Boot Camp

February 14, 10:00-11:00am, online

Sentences with Style

Calgary
February 14, 1:30-3:00pm, Memorial Park Library

Edmonton
February 15, 9:30-11:00am, Stanley Milner Library (6 flr, Rm 7)

Learn more about Get Your Grammar On events

Calling all Hosers! Avenue Edmonton's SCTV Petition

2012-01-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to Shauna MacDonald, AMPA's most recent volunteer blogger. For the past 7+ years, Shauna has been a post-secondary instructor of business and technical communication. She is passionate about pop culture, technology, finding creative solutions, and just about anything else that is new and exciting.

Coo roo coo coo coo coo coo coooo! Calling all hosers! Do you remember SCTV (originally "Second City TV")? Did you know that at one time it was filmed in Edmonton?

Edmonton’s Avenue magazine is doing its part to ensure that the pop culture significance of SCTV is not forgotten, by starting an online petition requesting that the city of Edmonton create an SCTV-themed monument. In addition to supporting the monument, petitioners are asked to share their suggestions for the type of monument. Perhaps a statue of a golden touque? A mural of TVs being thrown from windows?

And this is only the most recent example of how Avenue magazine gets involved in the community. Their “Top 40 Under 40” list, which has been around since 2009, recognizes those that “help to improve the quality of life in Edmonton and put this city on the map.” The nominees are carefully selected by a panel that includes Mayor Stephen Mandel. Recognizing the hard work, dedication and success of these 40 individuals is important for our community, as it has the power to inspire the rest of us to be our best and do what we can to better Edmonton.

Avenue also maintains four blogs with a community focus:

“Heroes and Visionaries” celebrates local successes, including some of Global TV’s Women of Vision.
“Bits on Bites” keeps readers and foodies up-to-date on Edmonton’s culinary delights.
“Culture City” discusses topics ranging from events and festivals, to stories that affect all of Alberta.
“Beautiful You” shares fashion and beauty topics with a distinctive Edmonton flair.

Avenue magazine has worked hard to integrate itself within Edmonton’s culture, so I recommend that you check it out and see how Avenue can complement your life as an Edmontonian.

Oh yeah...and don’t forget to sign the petition!

--- Shauna MacDonald
AMPA Volunteer Blogger

New Design for Alberta Venture Magazine

2012-01-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

When I got my first issue of Alberta Venture (AV) for the New Year, I noticed right away that there was a completely different look and feel to the magazine. Not only has the masthead changed, no longer giving Alberta and Venture equal weight, the cover paper stock is also slicker and glossier.


Redesigned January 2012 issue cover

December 2011 issue cover

Inside, there are new departments including a new front-of-book section called The Briefing, which is short and newsy instead of the former mini profiles. The back page column, This Way Forward, is also new, with its first incarnation written by publisher Ruth Kelly. Here she explores her entrepreneurial roots and introduces AV's theme for the year: An Exploration of our Entrepreneurial Spirit.

This is only the third time that AV has had a major overhaul, since Kelly relaunched it in 1997 after buying the name, mailing list and one issue's worth of paper from the provincial government for a paltry $100. For this redesign to happen in its 15th anniversary year was no coincidence. As stated on the AV website, Kelly says: “While the anniversary is a great reason to do it, every good magazine should go through a self-examination and understand the changing patterns in its readership on a regular basis.”

No doubt this makeover was a huge undertaking by the AV team, not least of all because boss-lady Kelly isn't one to settle for second best. Added to that, they've redesigned the website, set to launch in February.

So it's definitely a fresh start for the AV team for 2012. Congrats for a job well done and happy anniversary!

--- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Top 12 Alberta Magazine Blogposts: AMPA’s 2011 Year at a Glance

2012-01-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

We're past due for an unscientific and entirely-biased selection of Alberta Magazines blogposts from the past year. More specifically, excerpted highlights from each month’s biggest AMPA news, industry insight, plus “a few of my favourite things” that we did in 2011:

January
Tips for those Magazine Tweets
[January 28, 2011, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

AMPA hosted the seminar "Social Media Fundamentals" with guest speaker Liz Hover, digital media manager for Canada's National Screen Institute. I've decided that—after two awe-inspiring hours (no exaggeration, this was a lot of info) of tips on everything from twitter and facebook to website and blogging...

February

Editor of the Year; Who's Gonna Win?
[February 24, posted by Colleen Seto]

Forget the Oscars; the real contest to watch is the Alberta Editor of the Year Award (EYA), presented by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts... Can we say “all over the board” in regards to this year’s field of nominees? The EYA has always been immensely tough to judge largely because the variety of magazines in Alberta is so expansive…

March

Everyone's a Winner, Baby! Well, internally speaking...
[March 24, posted by Colleen Seto]

Okay, so not everyone can win. But that doesn't mean we can't all have a good time. And that's precisely what happened tonight at the Alberta Magazines Conference gala where winners of the Alberta Magazine Awards were announced to a full house amid swanky live jazz tunes and prime rib dinners…

April

An Idiot's Guide to Blogging
[April 20, posted by Colleen Seto]

May

To Post or Not to Post?
[May 30, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

June

The Future of Digital Publishing (Part One of Two)
[June 27, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

There are no certainties when it comes to predicting the future, especially when it comes to digital publishing. Understandably, some prefer to sit back and see how this all plays out before launching headfirst into the unknown. It can’t hurt, however, to hear the perspective of some of the bigger players... All of this is to say that there was much to be learned at AMPA’s “Publishing in the Digital Age” luncheon with Evan Hansen, editor-in-chief of Wired.com…

July

Sayonara, or until next time...
[July 17, posted by Colleen Seto]

Some of you may be wondering about the posting for the AMPA E.D. position. Yes, it's official. I've resigned and will not be returning to steer the AMPA ship this fall. I thought I'd take a moment on the AMPA blog to share a fond farewell…

August

New Canada Periodical Fund Formula Based on Circulation
[August 31, posted by Colleen Seto]

After what may seem like an eternity for many publishers, Canadian Heritage has released its new formula for support under the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for the Aid to Publishers (ATP) component… While the case remains that few Alberta magazines qualify for any funding at all given our largely controlled circ marketplace...

September

AMPA AGM 2011: Fond Farewells, New Beginnings
[September 23, posted by Andrew Mah]

I’ve been to more than a few AMPA AGM's over the years—back when I was an intern, later as magazine editor, and then as AMPA’s incoming executive director last year… The spirits did flow, but I also attribute the atmosphere to some of my favourite people: magazine people. I’m clearly biased, but those who work for magazines are, with remarkable consistency, friendly, creative, savvy and good hearted…

October

Alberta Best on Page Celebrated the Power of Magazines
[October 27, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

We laughed, we cried, we oohed, we awed. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but this past month we truly were inspired by the creativity on display at the Alberta Best on Page travelling exhibition. The show (held in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton) featured Magazines Canada's annual Best on Page display of national and international award-winning print ads…

November

Connecting Local Talent with Local Magazines
[November 21, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association is thrilled to officially launch the AMPA Contributors Directory, an initiative to connect local talent with local publications! Search the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association's comprehensive database of magazine creatives available for freelance and contract work for your publication or media organization...

December

How to Integrate Your Magazine with Social Media
[December 12, posted by Colleen Seto]

Happy New Year AMPA Friends and Followers!

--- Rebecca Lesser

AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Design Thinkers Conference Inspires UPPERCASE Magazine Publisher

2011-12-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

[Travel bursaries for voting magazine members are just one of the many benefit programs that we provide at the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association. We've asked bursary recipients to share their professional development travel experiences]

Having heard great reviews of DesignThinkers conference over the years, I finally got to experience it firsthand this year thanks to a bursary from AMPA. With an eclectic variety of speakers, presenters were from a graphic design background (advertising legend George Lois, book designer Chip Kidd, lettering goddess Jessica Hische) and from big companies (speakers representing Google, Oprah Magazine, and Method Home). The conference was very broadly about design thinking—about how creativity can affect change, enhance communities, engage consumers and entertain audiences. As magazine publishers, these are our goals.

Surprisingly, I found the most useful information for succeeding in publishing from two guys who make nice-smelling soap. Method, by combining eco-conscious products with innovative thinking and eye-catching design in a very traditional product category, has become an extremely successful company. Conference keynote presenter Eric Ryan (founder of Method) has a background in advertising; his friend (and co-founder) Adam Lowry was a climate scientist in his previous career. Theirs is an entertaining story, honestly presenting the failures alongside the success.

So how does running a cleaning products company relate to publishing a magazine? It's all in the attitude and using the Method method of business thinking. Here are some of the most relevant points:

Inspire Advocates

Create a product that people love and they will not only become dedicated customers but advocates for your brand. If you publish a magazine that people love (not just like), they can't live without it. The magazine becomes part of their way of life—they identify themselves by it. They proudly tell others about it, they're invested in the content and they support it financially. My magazine UPPERCASE is built on this notion; it was heartening to see this approach work so successful on a bigger scale.

Kick Ass at Fast

If you're not one of the "big guys" then you have to be better in other areas. For Method, this means that the relative small size of their company and manufacturing processes allows them to quickly seize opportunities of trends or customer feedback and implement change swiftly. For magazine publishers, it means that interacting and reacting with readers in real time is vital. You can no longer exist just in the realm of print—social media engagement is a vital and required offshoot of publishing content. Readers expect a dialogue; create a platform where this can happen and it will result in a stronger base for your publication. Smaller publications can achieve this much more easily than large publishing conglomerates, since readers can access us on a more intimate level.

Relationship Retail

Having fewer but more reliable customers is better than having lots of one-time customers. Method realized that their version of laundry detergent will never compete with "Tide", but they realized that their ideal customer will pay more for a product that they respect and understand. So fewer newsstand sales is fine if you have a strong subscriber base—a long term relationship is what magazines need to cultivate.

Win on Product Experience

Method is all about delivering an exceptional product experience. They take the mundane such as toilet bowl cleaner and reinvent the category, elevating the product design and packaging into something unique, useful and memorable. Whatever topic your magazine covers, yours should be the ultimate: the most reliable reference delivering the most intelligent expertise in the most engaging way possible.

Design Driven

To differentiate your product on the shelves, your design needs to be different. And not just different for the sake of different, but different for good reason. When Method launched its first product, they hired Karim Rashid, a superstar in industrial design, who created a bottle that not only looked unique, but one that functioned in a whole new way. Theirs was so innovative and unique on the shelves that other companies had to struggle to catch up to this new standard. Good design comes from good thinking. Make sure that the packaging of your magazine is in service of its content and that it recognizes the intelligence of its readers.

I'm eager to take more of what I learned from Method and the DesignThinkers conference and apply it to my publishing adventure.

I invite you to read more highlights of DesignThinkers on the UPPERCASE blog.

--- Janine Vangool
Publisher, Editor, Designer, UPPERCASE Magazine

Alberta Magazine Awards – Call for Entries!

2011-12-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Fame. Fortune. Freakouts! Okay, maybe not freakouts, I was thinking of a different kind of winning (see below). But it is Alberta Magazine Awards time again, folks! Time to salute the great achievements of Alberta magazines over this past year with praise, trophies, recognition, and yes, moola! The Alberta Showcase Award winners each receive $250 cash, not to mention bragging rights. This year, we’ve added a new category—Best Digital Presence—to highlight publishing digital innovations. Both online magazines and magazine companion websites are eligible.

I’ve seen several award-worthy pieces over the past year, and the only way to get the recognition they deserve is to submit an entry. This is your time to shine so don’t hem and haw about whether to enter, just do it!

And don’t forget about the Achievement Awards either. This includes the oh-so-coveted Editor of the Year Award. (We’re pleased to affirm that last year’s winner Käthe Lemon is still living and working in Alberta—stop stealing our talent, rest of Canada!) It’s also time to nominate supastars for the Achievement in Publishing Award. (Who could forget how genuinely surprised and touched Rob Tanner was winning the inaugural award?) This year, it could be your turn to be publicly verklempt!

So get your nominations in by January 31, 2012—earlier would be greatly appreciated. We strongly encourage you not to wait until 4pm on the 31^st to come crashing into the AMPA office—you know who you are! And mark your calendar for March 22 at the Alberta Magazines Conference when the winners will be announced. It’ll be a fabulous night of oohing and ahhing, not to missed!

Be a winner--but maybe not this kind. (As if I could pass up the chance to reference the Sheen-ster!)

For some inspiration, check out the list of last year’s winners.

--- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

How to Integrate Your Magazine with Social Media: Glamour Magazine's Facebook Scavenger Hunt

2011-12-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

Now that Facebook is up to 800 million active users, (confess already, you just logged in and checked your Facebook, didn't you?) it really does make sense for magazines to use it for promotional purposes. Glamour did just that with its September 2011 issue: the print magazine was integrated with Facebook using the new Social SnapTag technology.

A Social SnapTag is similar to a QR code, but users do not need a QR scanner or smartphone to interact. In Glamour, the SnapTags redirect users to sweepstakes entries, exclusive celebrity interviews and invitations to Glamour sponsored events, if they “liked” the publication or brand. Twenty-five advertisers took part and the publication hosted 20 of its own editorial tags for a total of 45.

So, did it work? Heck yes. The promo generated over 500,000 impressions and increased Glamour’s number of Facebook fans by 50,000.

The creative services director for Glamour told Audience Development:

“The idea was to drive as many likes as possible for advertisers. If you hovered your phone over a Lancome ad and liked them with your phone, you could then be eligible to win a trip or eye-make up for a year--the consumer would always get something back.

“It was like a scavenger hunt where readers would look for the [SnapTag/Facebook] logo throughout the issue and it was distinct. Not only could you download it and scan it, but if you didn’t have a smartphone you could take a picture of it and text it. We wanted it to work with as many phones as possible.”

Glamour also plans to unveil a “shopable” issue in March, where Facebook users will have the ability to like brands and purchase goods directly from the magazine with their cell phones, and be given incentives to do so.

What do you think? Would you SnapTag your mag? Would your advertisers? Or, as a reader, would you interact with a SnapTag?

--- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

RedPoint Media on the Growth Track

2011-11-29T18:38:00.001-08:00

I remember when RedPoint Media didn’t exist. It was early in my freelance career, and I’d just started writing for Avenue because I’d had the good fortune to intern under then-editor Charlene Rooke at her previous post at U of C’s alumni magazine.

RedPoint Media was born when it merged Avenue Media Group and Calgary Publishing Ltd and the publishing of their flagship titles Avenue and the now-defunct Calgary magazine.

Now one of the largest independent publishing companies in Western Canada, RedPoint is creating new buzz with its recent partnership with the Calgary Economic Development to develop a national marketing and business development campaign called "Calgary: Be Part of the Energy." The campaign is designed to attract people and business to the city and will appear in various RedPoint publications as well as through online media extensions.

And RedPoint’s just getting started, according to Gary Davies, the company's executive vice-president (and former AMPA Prez). He says the goal is to build the company into one of Canada's largest content creation companies by doubling the company's size over the next five years.

Given RedPoint’s growth to date, (it’s made PROFIT’s fastest growing companies list twice), I won’t be surprised when this latest goal is met, too.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

All I Want for Christmas is an E-Reader...Or Do I?

2011-11-23T18:31:00.001-08:00

With Christmas a month away, the push is already on to make people feel inadequately prepared. (Or maybe it's just me?) Every second commercial is hyping endless gift ideas including the latest e-readers. Of course, the iPad is expected to continue to sell well, but for many the price tag is just a bit too hefty.

Many are opting instead for the new Kindle Fire, priced at $199USD through Amazon--$300 less than the cheapest iPad. According to Audience Development, the device will house over 400 full-color publications through its newsstand, including those from the likes of big guns Bonnier, Meredith, Hearst and Conde Nast.

Not to be outdone, Barnes & Noble announced the NOOK Tablet with storage room of 16 G, video capability and battery life of 11 hours. The NOOK Tablet is priced at $249USD and has been said to have superior software to the Fire. For a comparison of the two tablets, check out news from the Online Publishing Association.

I think I'll stick to the tried-and-true. Paper, anyone?

-- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Connecting Local Talent with Local Magazines

2011-11-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association is thrilled to officially launch the AMPA Contributors Directory, an initiative to connect local talent with local publications!

Publishers, Editors, Creative Directors: Look No Further
Need that special photographer for an upcoming fashion shoot? A writer who can deliver an environmental story from Fort McMurray? A designer to help with a custom publication?'

Search the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association's comprehensive database of magazine creatives available for freelance and contract work for your publication or media organization. Contributors in various creative disciplines from Alberta and beyond have listed their credits and credentials on our site — your one stop means of finding the right person for your next big feature or publishing needs.

Contributors, Freelancers, Contractors: Sign Up Now

If you’re a writer, editor, photographer, illustrator, fact checker, web designer or graphic designer available for hire, sign up to our contributors database now. Publishers, editors and creative directors are always on the lookout for talented magazine creatives and this is where you can be found.

Create your own user-maintained listing, featuring key phrase search, extended profile description, website listing, secure email contact, and uploadable samples. Annual subscriptions are currently free so sign up now.

Learn more about the AMPA Contributors Directory, and browse the database of over eighty (and growing!) profiles featuring Alberta's talented contributors, at http://directory.albertamagazines.com

Alberta Writing and Magazine Contests Galore!

2011-11-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

I confess I'm going to shamelessly self-promote for a moment. I'm running a contest on my personal blog where all you have to do is tell me your favourite travel experience or destination. Just share in my comments and you could win a free night at any Delta Hotel or Resort across the country. Easy peasy, right?

That got me thinking about other contests. From Alberta magazines, there are a good number of prizes to be won, not to mention the chance to be published. Here's a rundown for you to go enter today!

Win tickets and CORE gift cards through Avenue Calgary for the 'T'was the Night shopping event at the CORE. Contest closes Nov. 24, 2011.
FreeFall literary magazine is accepting submissions for its Annual Prose and Poetry Contest with special guest judge/editor Stephanie Bolster. Contest closes December 31, 2011.
Alberta Views is looking for a surprising view of Alberta. Submit a photo for a chance to win $1,000 and be published in Alberta Views in 2012. Contest closes December 31, 2011.
Wine Access wants to send you to the Cayman Islands. Contest closes December 31, 2011.
City Palate wants to know where you read your City Palate. Send in a photo of you reading the mag to win one of three fabulous weekend resort packages. Contest closes February 1, 2012.
Tell Birthing magazine what your family's most effective preventative/natural health tip is and you could win a free naturopathic consultation.

Several ongoing contests run are always happening too. Check out:

up! magazine's three monthly travel contests to win great gear like WestJet travel vouchers;
Calgary’s Child Magazine offers a variety of family-friendly contests and giveaways--all the time;
Canadian Scrapbooker offers several contests including a Win on Wednesdays contest every week on Facebook;
Western Living holds a contest every issue for a Western Canadian getaway.
Lethbridge living offers a free Family Pass to the Galt Museum and Archives in every issue.

Happy contesting!

-- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Gold in the Stills: Mining Print Content for Digital Traffic and Profit

2011-11-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association presents “Gold in the Stills: Mining Print Content for Digital Traffic and Profit” featuring Joy Gugeler:

Calgary Seminar

Date & Time: Monday, November 28, 10:30am – noon

Location: Memorial Park Library, Calgary

Cost: AMPA members & students $12; non-members $22

Online registration for the Calgary morning seminar

Province-wide Webinar

Date & Time: Monday, November 28, 2:30pm – 4:00pm MST

Cost: AMPA members & students $22; non-members $32

Online registration for the province-wide afternoon webinar

Are you ready to get new traffic from old content by expanding your web presence, showcasing your full archive for increased views, money and brand recognition? Digital publishing expert Joy Gugeler will offer a snapshot of the options before you upload your digital content.

“Gold in the Stills: Mining Print Content for Digital Traffic and Profit” is designed for magazine staff needing a framework for approaching a site upgrade. It is intended to help you take full advantage of content you may be overlooking (ie: a return on sunk editorial investments) and offset overhead costs with online ads/subscriptions.

This presentation will run through relevant issues in a typical digital audit by assessing:

editorial goals for the upload – brand, ad money, readers, subscriptions
rights, volume, length, breadth, and quality of existing/archive content
content tabs or sections for comprehensiveness and logic
the value of adding new media or formats: video, photo, audio
user-generated content/interactivity – comments, polls, ratings, forum posts
social media integration – Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, YouTube
editorial workflow to parallel print editions or stagger costs
free/off-the-shelf vs. customized upgrades and resources

Joy Gugeler is the former editor-in-chief of Suite101.com, NowPublic.com and Orato.com; she’s also an editorial board member of Quarry, ARC and Room magazines. She teaches publishing and digital media at VIU, Ryerson and SFU and operates Chameleon Consulting.

George Webber Photography Book Launch

2011-11-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

One of our favourite Alberta magazine contributors, award-winning photographer George Webber has put together yet another fabulous book.

The book, In This Place: Calgary 2004 - 2011, presents George's personal take on his hometown. He has captured tiny moments and exquisite details of everyday life in the city as it surged past one million inhabitants. George's pictures are all about the importance of finding beauty, meaning and mystery right where you live. Acclaimed author and fellow magazine contributor Aritha van Herk provides the accompanying essays in the book.

Join George at The Camera Store classroom on November 25, located at #210, 3060 9th St. SE, Calgary, for a book signing from 6 to 9pm and a presentation at 7pm.

Congrats, George!

-- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger in Residence

Alberta Best on Page Celebrated the Power of Magazines

2011-10-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

We laughed, we cried, we oohed, we awed. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but this past month we truly were inspired by the creativity on display at the Alberta Best on Page traveling exhibition.

The show (held in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton) featured Magazines Canada's annual Best on Page display of national and international award-winning print ads; we also couldn't help but boast our local talent with a showcase of our province's editorial and design successes from this past year's Alberta Magazine Awards.

Former AMPA Executive Director Andrew Mah described the power of the Best on Page imagery: "These ads pop. They sing. They persuade, compel, evoke. They demonstrate the continued power of print: of the striking marriage among words, pictures and design." And this is just the advertising side of magazines. The flip side of our industry is editorial "covers that hook, photos and illustrations that impress and feature stories that draw you in." This is the local talent, represented by our member magazine publishers, that we celebrate each year at the Alberta Magazine Awards.

So enough describing from me, time to see for yourselves with this photo-glimpse of the fun that we had at our Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton exhibition receptions (you can see more photos in our Flickr album).

October 1, Lethbridge:

October 5, Calgary (photographs courtesy Don Molyneaux):

October 12, Edmonton (photographs courtesy Kyla Feschuk):

-- Rebecca Lesser

AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Updated Ad Sales Video Tool for Magazines

2011-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Magazines Canada has updated its Magazines Connect video, which takes key industry research and knowledge, and translates it into quick hits of information.

In two minutes, it lays the groundwork for a magazine ad sales pitch by delivering points about magazine engagement, content, demographics, purchase intent, and the growing relationship with online and digital. And the music and graphics are pretty snazzy too.

Check out the video on YouTube and share your thoughts. Would it be helpful for your client presentations? For approaching new clients? Re-introducing magazines to old clients? We'd love to know if this sort of resource is useful so let us know!

-- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

5 Ways to Increase Site Traffic: Lessons from the Niche Digital Conference, Part 1

2011-10-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Niche Digital Conference (Part 1)

This past September, I was lucky enough to attend the Niche Digital Conference in Chicago, thanks to support from my employer, Venture Publishing, and AMPA. The Niche Digital Conference is devoted to teaching online revenue strategies to niche publications and their online extensions.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be giving you some of the best tips and tricks that I learned at the conference. Some of it will be old news to the web gurus among us, but hopefully I’ll pass on something useful for everyone.

I’ll start off with the following five strategies to increase site traffic:

1. Spread out your content! Don’t publish all of your magazine’s content online at the beginning of the month. Use the date stamping tools of your content management system to load your content all at once, but publish it piece by piece over a period of time. Encourage people to come back to your site multiple times and you’ll build a stronger audience and increase ad impressions.

2. SEO, SEO, SEO - Stop investing money in Google ad words and start investing time in search engine optimization. The best argument I can make for this is from my own experience. Thanks to some SEO changes we’ve made to our website albertaoilmagazine.com, site traffic has increased more than 240% since January 2011. Not all of this increase is due to our SEO work, but search engine popularity has become a major traffic component. Read an SEO book, website, magazine, or hire a consultant to teach your staff how to do it correctly.

3. Connect with Local Influencers - With an internet filled with free content, actually having a printed product not only makes magazine websites elite, it also gives us massive social cache that many skilled writers and niche experts value. Reach out to popular bloggers, experts, or influencers that have established audiences and see if they’d be interested in blogging on your site. Provided they align with your editorial mandate and quality control, this can be a very quick way of increasing your site’s online audience. By giving them a legitimate platform to write from, you’ll gain their audience and their support.

4. Create a social media interaction plan - Come up with a clear goal for your social media usage and assign a member of your team to monitor and reply to social media comments each day. Use programs like Hootsuite and TweetDeck to schedule multiple posts a day (aim for 5-10 throughout the day, depending on your market and ability) and make sure to tag your story subject’s social media accounts to ensure lots of reposts and retweets.

5. Don’t Just Post Your Own Stuff – The best thing about the internet is how interconnected it is, so why are you treating your magazine website like a walled garden? Don’t be afraid to post links to other websites. Become a web content curator in addition to a producer and you’ll see your page rank and traffic rise. The more links out you give, the more links back you’ll get, and Google rewards sites that boast numerous connections to others.

My next post will be devoted to banner ads, media kits, and the sales side of digital revenue generation. Be sure to check back then!

--- Andrew Williams
Assistant Publisher, Venture Publishing

Andrew Williams is the Assistant Publisher at Venture Publishing. When he’s not working on Alberta Venture, Alberta Oil, or unlimitedmagazine.com, he mostly spends his time coming up with bad magazine headline puns. Follow him on twitter @Andrew_NVS for the aforementioned magazine puns.

Apple Releases iCloud and Newsstand Feature

2011-10-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

With the unexpected and sad passing of Steve Jobs, Apple's original genius, there's been a lot of speculation about what will happen next and how Apple will continue. It's clear that Jobs was no dummy so my guess is he had many plans in place for the company to carry on without him. As Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an email to Apple employees: "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." The Apple machine will, no doubt, chug on.

Which brings us to the launch of the iCloud. Operating on the same principles as other cloud computing services, iCloud will be a free download for Apple users, which automatically stores user content to the cloud; enabling users to access content across any iOS platform.

The iCloud coincides with the release of the iOS 5 mobile operating system, which includes Newsstand, a virtual bookshelf that displays users’ subscriptions with the latest issues of magazine titles. Each of your chosen titles are updated automatically so you always have the latest issue and the most recent cover art of your favourite mags.

Newsstand will work in tandem with Apple's subscription model, announced back in March, which allows publishers to sell subscriptions through the App Store for a 30 percent cut of each sub purchased. (Apple keeps the user data automatically unless users choose to share with publishers.) Conde Nast and Hearst are among the publishers that have signed on to sell subscriptions through the App Store.

According to a press release from Apple, "with iOS 5 and iCloud, you just enter your Apple ID and password and iCloud will seamlessly integrate with your apps to automatically and wirelessly keep all of your mail, contacts, calendars, photos, apps, books, music and more, up-to-date across all your devices without ever having to connect to a computer."

For those still dubious about Apple's future, consider that only five days after Jobs' passing, pre-orders of the iPhone® 4S topped one million in 24 hours, surpassing the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by iPhone 4. If that's not an ode to Jobs, I don't know what is.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Fall Water-Cooler AMPA Update

2011-10-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Fall is officially upon us now so I thought it was time for another update on what's happening with some Alberta mags folks. As I'm not always privy to everybody's news, I invite you to please share with me what's happening in your world. And it doesn't have to be magazine news; let's face it, we're into the personal stuff too!

As we all know, big changes at AMPA. A fond farewell is in order for Andrew Mah (or Mahster, as I like to call him) as he embarks on new adventures to teach in China. Thank you Andrew for the amazing work you pulled off in this last year. I know all too well that the first year comes with a wicked steep learning curve and you handled it like a pro.

A big welcome to Suzanne Trudel as the new AMPA ED. As a fellow board member for the Amber Webb-Bowerman Memorial Foundation, I know Suz to be dedicated and hardworking, not to mention a lovely person. I'm sure she will do a great job carrying on AMPA's good works. If you haven't already, please take a moment to say hello and make her feel at home.

Former AMPA Communications Specialist Anh Chu has just moved across the pond, making London, England, her new home, just to shake things up! Watch for news about Anh's next career as...an actress? A gourmet chef? A Spice Girl?

Congrats to Melanie Jones, Alberta mags contributor and former Where Calgary editor, on her success with her show ENDURE, which she created, produced and performs. She recently came home to Calgary and completed a sold-out run and now she's back in New York performing this immersive, theatre-meets-athletics show twice a day every weekend this month. You go, girl!

Margaret Chandler, former AMPA conference coordinator, is now at Bow Valley College as Special Advisor to the President. She's actually been at the job for a year now, but I forgot to blog about it when she started. (I blame baby brain.) She continues her green initiatives chairing the ECOBVC, the college's sustainability committee.

In June, Alberta Venture welcomed two new columnists, Preston Manning and Brett Wilson. Talk about bringing on the big guns!

AvenueCalgary.com got a facelift this summer with a new design as well as a version for mobile apps.

And finally, some cheesy personal gushing. It's my baby's first birthday today! Happy birthday Annabel!

---Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

AMPA AGM 2011: Fond Farewells, New Beginnings

2011-09-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

I’ve been to more than a few AMPA AGM's over the years—back when I was an intern, later as magazine editor, and then as AMPA’s incoming executive director last year. They’ve always had a great atmosphere, due in part to our watering-hole of choice, the woodsy and warm Rose & Crown tavern.

My Favourite People

The spirits did flow, but I also attribute the atmosphere to some of my favourite people: magazine people. I’m clearly biased, but those who work for magazines are, with remarkable consistency, friendly, creative, savvy and good hearted. It may have something to do with the need to blend entrepreneurial rigor with creative vision. There’s probably also a weaning-out process: who but the passionate yet pragmatic would persist in an industry fraught with low margins, long hours and tight deadlines?

Whatever the reasons, I’ve always felt at home with this group: the publishers, editors, art directors, writers, sales staff, interns, etc, of the Alberta magazine publishing industry. Which is why it is with sadness that I announced my departure from AMPA at the AGM.

Exit Stage Left

I won’t bore you with personal ephemera. I’ll simply point out that I was torn to stay, would have enjoyed it, but some big life goals will be taking me overseas.

It’s been a time for farewells. A few months ago, stalwart AMPA ED-on-leave Colleen Seto decided not to return from maternity leave, choosing the joys of motherhood and freelancing instead. Not enough can be said about how much Colleen has done for AMPA during her five years. Immense credit goes to her for building a stable, secure organization and helping to create this great community.

The next farewell was a bit of an AGM shocker, with Agnes Zalewski revealing her departure from June Warrren-Nickle's Energy Group, and hence as AMPA President. I can say that it was a pleasure working with such an enthusiastic board, and with Agnes's drive and clarity in particular.

Continual Rebirth

Of course, departure creates opportunity. Jenn Schmidt-Rempel of Lethbridge living stepped up to the presidency of AMPA. She definitely has the energy and entrepreneurial vision to take the association forward. My own successor was also introduced: Suzanne Trudel. Trudel comes well recommended as the former Publications Manager at SAIT, and I’m confident you’ll be in good hands with her.

We also introduced a keen, new member of the AMPA staff: admin and special projects assistant Rowena Cua. You’ll be seeing her at more meetings moving forward.

There were old and new faces elected to the Board of AMPA. Indeed, rampant enthusiasm to join—there were 7 people on the election slate and only 6 open positions—almost led to what would have been a first in my memory, a bona fide gun-slinging election with ballots. However, Agnes’ high-noon departure opened up a 7^th position and we were able to continue the AMPA tradition of saving time for beer and noshing by acclaiming the entire slate with a show of hands.

The Board

So this year’s board will include:

[incumbents]

Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, Lethbridge living

Lynn Fraser, Freefall

Brian French, Where Calgary

[re-elected]

Tracy Hyatt, Westworld

Merla Thomson, Canine Review

[newly elected]

Joyce Byrne, Alberta Venture

Käthe Lemon, Avenue Calgary

Chaz Osburn, Alberta Construction Magazine

Steven Sandor, Avenue Edmonton

Rob Tanner, Canadian Cowboy Country

What Else?

Suffice it to say, membership is up, AMPA is in good financial shape and we’re working hard to provide the programs and services our members seek.

Beyond that, I’ll simply say thanks and farewell. AMPA is in good hands with Suzanne and a robust board of directors. Plus, Rebecca Lesser, who you all know, will keep the home fires burning—I’d like to thank her especially—for her dedication, insights and willingness to shoulder thankless burdens. Take care, everyone.

--- Andrew Mah
AMPA Executive Director

Twitter Analytics Coming Soon

2011-09-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

It seems almost everyone and their dog has a Twitter account these days. I'm not much of a Tweep myself, given that I've forgotten my Twitter password since the day I opened an account eons ago, but friends of mine swear by it as a way to stay informed and connected as well as to promote themselves.

Twitter for business promotion

AMPA itself has successfully tweeted to raise awareness about a number of events and news bites. But while many folks use Twitter for more than finding out what the Kardashians are doing, it's a bit surprising to me that so many businesses have jumped on board when you don't really know if your tweets generate much if any interest back to your website, or your bottom line.

Measuring that Twitter traffic

All that's about to change. According to Audience Development, Twitter is launching an analytics tool so that developers can understand how content is being shared across Twitter; measure the traffic Twitter is sending to a site; and measure the effectiveness of the Tweet button integration. The tool is currently only available to select partners in a pilot program, but will be made available to everyone in coming weeks.

Then we'll get to see whether all this twittering is really worth all the fuss.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

10 Years for Fine Arts Magazine Galleries West

2011-09-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Fine arts magazine reaches milestone

Galleries West, the magazine that "strives to heighten awareness of the visual arts scene in Western Canada," hits its 10-year milestone with its latest issue. Publisher Tom Tait launched the indie mag a decade ago because he felt the need for a fine arts publication featuring the works, artists and galleries of Western Canada. He also had a passion and the know-how to make it happen.

Publisher Tom Tait knows the magazine biz

The former publisher of Where Calgary magazine (which is now owned by big-gun St. Joseph's media), Tom is no stranger to magazine publishing. He's been in the biz for 30-some years, and he understands what it takes to succeed, particularly in the Alberta market. (For a detailed account of Tom's career, have a read of David Parker's column in the Herald.)

He's one of the few people who really gets how the magazine market works here, and he has not only successfully created a magazine, but a stellar custom distribution system for it. I still remember watching with amazement as Tom once flummoxed a couple of Canadian Heritage officials who could not counter his argument that a controlled circulation model is by no means inferior to a paid model. (Too bad his argument didn't take hold as controlled circ mags still do not qualify for funding through the Canadian Periodical Fund.)

The magazine is an art form in and of itself

Galleries West continues to be a fantastic advocate for the arts, and its design and presentation are an art form in and of itself. I always looked forward to seeing the newest issue arrive to the AMPA office because it was so well laid out. Kudos to art director Wendy Pease for her great work.

To this day, one of my favourite spreads is still the feature on Brian Jungen about his Prototypes for New Understanding series where the Vancouver-based artist used pieces from Nike Air Jordan sneakers to create semblances of West Coast Aboriginal masks, whales, falcons, and more. The artwork was genius, but so too was design of the story. If I remember correctly, it won a Showcase Award that year, and we had the entry hanging in our offices for years. I just loved it.

And I love that Galleries West continues to thrive. Congrats Tom; 10 years is a big deal, even if you won't toot your own horn. So I will. Rock on. You are a star.

---Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Fly Fusion and Wine Access Finalists in Canadian Newsstand Awards

2011-09-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note of congrats to AMPA members Fly Fusion and Wine Access, which have been named finalists in the 10th annual Canadian Newsstand Awards.

The awards are judged on both quantitative criteria (such as newsstand sell-through percentage) and qualitative (cover design, cover lines etc.).

Winners will be announced Sept. 26 at a reception in Toronto. Good luck!

-- Colleen Seto, AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

New Canada Periodical Fund Formula Based on Circulation

2011-08-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

Funding Based on Circulation

The biggest change is that support is now based on circulation instead of on editorial or delivery costs as in the past. It's no surprise that paid magazines receive the highest funding per copy, but request circ also gets support. Magazines get more funding than newspapers.

The new formula is also aimed to benefit smaller circ mags; mags with 2,500 to 25,000 paid circ are eligible for $3,000 to $31,000, and there is a cap in place of $1.5 million for the largest publications.

Will the New Formula Benefit Alberta Publishers?

While the case remains that few Alberta magazines qualify for any funding at all given our largely controlled circ marketplace, at least this new CPF formula gives publishers with paid or request circ some numbers they can plan around. The new levels of support will be phased in over three years starting with the 2011-12 period.

I'll check in with some Alberta publishers who receive CPF support as this new program unfolds to see if it's helping or hindering. In the meantime, you can read full details about ATP here.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

MagaScene: Alberta magazine industry news, events & jobs (August/Issue 86)

2011-08-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

NEWS

WordFest Unveils Literary Line-up

Business Innovation Funding for Print Magazines

EVENTS

MacEwan Writing Works Fall Courses (Sep - Nov)

Magazines Canada Webinar Wednesdays (Sep - Nov)

1, 2, 3 ... You're Published! One-Day Workshop (Sep 17)

Master Media Interviews Workshop (Sep 21)

Word on the Street Lethbridge (Sep 25)

Alberta Arts Days 2011 (Sep 30 - Oct 2)

Best on Page: Witness the Power of Magazines (Oct 1)

JOBS

Account Executive, RedPoint Media Group Inc. (Aug 31)

Editorial Intern, Where Canadian Rockies Magazine (Sep 9)

Graphic Designer (Magazines/Maps/Websites), RMV Publications

Advertising Sales, Edmonton Home & Condo Living

Advertising Sales, WHERE Edmonton/Canadian Cowboy Country

Youngblut leaving Swerve

2011-08-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

UPDATED POST
After connecting with Shelley, she let me know that she'll be wrapping up at Swerve in the next few days, then taking a few weeks off before starting up at The Globe on Sept. 26. After seven years, she felt it was time to make a change. "I really want to get back to writing," she said. In the meantime, Bruce Weir will be acting editor until the position is officially filled; it would make the most sense for it still to be Bruce when it's official! We shall see. Here's hoping Swerve doesn't get swallowed up in The Herald's special publications black hole without Shelley around to champion it.

----------------

A news bite to round out the week: some pretty big news in the Alberta mags world, actually. Shelley Youngblut, editor of the Calgary Herald's weekly supplement Swerve, recently announced that she is leaving her position to go to The Globe and Mail. This probably comes as a surprise to many, since Swerve is, in fact, Shelley's brainchild, which she pitched to the Herald and launched in 2004. I'm hoping to get the full story when I see her tomorrow at the Sugar Bowl. In the meantime, have a read of more details on D.B.'s blog.

Colleen Seto, AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

IMPACT Mag Lets Readers Choose 20th Anniversary Cover

2011-08-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Choose From Top 20 IMPACT Cover Athletes

IMPACT magazine is celebrating its 20th anniversary by asking readers to vote for their top cover athletes to grace its September 2011 issue. The magazine chose its top 20 cover athletes over the past 20 years based on their impact on sport, community and country. It was no easy task as there have been more than 140 elite athletes and sports personas who have been featured on the cover in the past two decades.

Calgary Flames Star Theo Fleury was the first to take IMPACT's cover position.

Readers Vote for Anniversary Issue Cover Athlete

Readers were asked to choose their favourites from that list. Since the end of July, readers could vote at www.impactmagazine.ca or on Facebook for the likes of Olympic medallists like Jarome Iginla, Simon Whitfield, Clara Hughes, and Mark Tewksbury. More than 3000 votes were cast, demonstrating a keen interest in IMPACT's reader community. This contest was a clever way to get readers to interact online and have a say in what happens with the print publication.

A Personal Vote for Catriona Le May Doan

It'll be interesting to see which female and which male athlete will take next month's cover. Given the many sporting heavyweights in Western Canada and in particular, Calgary, it's anybody's guess who will claim the cover. I personally voted for two-time Olympic Champion, Catriona Le May Doan. Not only is she the cream of the crop in terms of athletic achievements, she's also involved in endless community initiatives, plus she's hilarious. Okay, she happens to be a friend, but I would have voted for her regardless. Looking forward to the big reveal!

--- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

The Elements of Editing in a Two-Day Workshop: A Staff Writer's Experience

2011-08-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

Travel bursaries for voting magazine members are just one of the many benefit programs that we provide at the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association. We've asked bursary recipients to share their professional development travel experiences.

Paul Stastny, staff writer at Oilweek magazine, made use of an AMPA travel subsidy to attend a one-day workshop as part of Simon Fraser University's Summer Publishing program in Vancouver.

An Adventurous Start in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

I arrive in downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain and confirm the address of my hotel in my planner, thinking how convenient it is to be only a few blocks from Simon Fraser University’s downtown campus. But as I head out of the downtown core, the neighbourhood starts to look seedy. Apparently I’m headed in the right direction, until a man next to me at an intersection convinces me otherwise; he puts down a refrigerator grill and explodes into a flurry of shadow punches.

I phone the hotel to find that I've written down the wrong address. It’s a painful reminder of my lack of attention to detail and why I’m here for a course on editing in the first place. Somehow, in a lapse of attention, I've ended up on the edge of Vancouver’s notorious East Hastings district.

The Elements of Editing Workshop with Shelley Youngblut

We introduce ourselves in class and say a few words about what brings us to the Elements of Editing workshop led by Calgary’s Swerve magazine editor, Shelley Youngblut. Without going into the embarrassing minutiae of my mini adventure, I say I hope to reign in my distressing lack of attention to detail. But as a writer for Oilweek, I’m also here to gather some insights into the creativity and sensibilities that have made Swerve an award-winning publication, and a magazine that features some of my favourite Canadian non-fiction writers.

Shelley draws on her consumer publication experience from some 30 years of editing in New York and Canada. She’s a great speaker; her passion for editing and working with creative people is inspiring. Her anecdotes and observations make you want to be a better editor, even if you’re a writer, which is to say there’s a lot of takeaway for both writers and editors here.

As for my lack of attention to detail, I can’t say I’m cured. My sense is that any course that could actually help me with this weakness is one I probably couldn’t sit through. Fact checking or the nuts and bolts of line editing isn’t what this course is about. Thankfully.

--- Paul Stastny

Oilweek Staff Writer, JuneWarren-Nickle's Publishing

Cracking the QR Codes

2011-08-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

What are QR (quick response) codes?

You've probably noticed the sudden proliferation of QR (quick response) codes--those squiggly square bar-code-ish symbols that, when scanned by a smartphone, links the user to a specific webpage. I've seen them on store signage, giant outdoor banners, e-mail signatures, even Facebook profile pics. And yes, on magazine covers and ads, too. See Esquire's cover here:

Why magazines use QR codes for marketing
QR codes offer yet another marketing technique and a way to track response rates. For publishers, this means you can launch new promotions of your own or offer your advertisers another tracking mechanism for their print campaigns. A common application for advertisers is to use a QR code to link potential customers to a coupon to try their product. Or, a QR code can take existing customers to additional resources for a product for added value. Basically, QR codes can be a great way of interacting with readers from the printed page to the online world.

Share your QR code experience!

Have any of you tried a QR code? (I know that some of you have, so don't play shy here!) Share with us what your promotion was/is and what kind of response it received. Or are you a scanner of these codes? What moves you to scan one? I was keen to scan a code for a restaurant I wanted to try. Too bad my phone is circa 1982...

More information on QR codesFor more info about how QR codes can work with magazines, have a boo at Martin Seto's Masthead Gadget blog article. (And no, despite his rumour-spreading, he's neither my dad nor my husband. Ha!)

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Alberta Magazine Publishers Association is Moving Offices

2011-08-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Time for a Move from 17th Avenue

The boxes are piled up along the wall and atop the dollies, and the bright, multi-pastel-hued I Heart AB Mags posters have been taken down with care from the windows. We’ve managed to Kijiji obsolete office equipment (alas, good-bye 300 lb. printer), recycle magazines older than those in doctor’s offices, and box up binder upon binder of Canadian Heritage grant reports.

You see, it’s time for a move. Our lease is up, space is scarce and we’ve found some new digs just north of the Bow River in Calgary.

The New Office in Kensington

Starting on August 9, AMPA will have moved into a shiny new space in the Kensington district—just a block from the famously jaundiced, iconic Calgary grease refectory that is Chicken on the Way (I say this all affectionately; I’ve had more than a few chicken dinner snack packs).

Our new office is modestly larger, which will be a good thing for the staff—at our former location we'd rubbed elbows in our open-concept, shared workspaces. It’s a good thing we all got along so well.

A New Space for AMPA Members

The extra space will also be good for AMPA members. It will enable us to create a new community resource area: a place where members and the public can access our archive of past magazine issues, a library of reference materials, and view a wall-spanning display of AMPA member publications. There will also be space for members to book and hold small meetings and get-togethers, and for AMPA to host small workshops and webinars.

A Move for a New Era

It’s been five years here for AMPA, a year for me, and I’ve come to enjoy the bustle of 17th Avenue. Still, it seems appropriate for AMPA, which has been growing and changing with its membership, to make its move now: a symbolic start to a new era.

If you’re in the neighbourhood, please feel free to stop by. The chicken fritters are on us.

--- Andrew Mah
AMPA Acting Executive Director

Mobile Analytics Can Prove Useful for Publishers

2011-08-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Value of Mobile Analytics
We've been chatting for what seems like forever about the importance of online content, but the biggest obstacle continues to be how to generate revenue from this content. It's always been difficult to tell what financial payoff online content has for magazine publishers, short of actual online subscription sales.

Now, mobile or tablet analytics may provide the answer. Similar to web analytics, mobile/tablet stats provide behavioral metrics such as page views and user actions, but on a mobile device where a user can be much more focussed on a publisher's content or advertiser's message, such metrics may be much more meaningful for publishers and advertisers than web metrics.

How to Capitalize on Mobile Analytics
According to an article in Folio, these mobile metrics can include geolocation, which for a savvy marketer can be critical information to determine what content to post to solidify brand loyalty.

To really capitalize on these metrics, you have to effectively tag your pages, online elements and apps so you can track user actions such as opening a page, clicking on an object, entering information, leaving a page, starting or stopping a video playback, and so on.

Where to Start with Mobile Analytics
The mobile analytics arena is still young, and it will take a while yet for the data to build up. Qualified interpretation remains the key to turning these metrics into useful marketing information, but it's a good time to start developing a tagging infrastructure that is built into your workflow, and taking a look at vendors who can provide these metrics.

---Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Magazine Editor Shares MagNet Conference Experience

2011-08-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Karen D. Crowdis, former editor of AMPA member Birthing magazine, saw the AMPA travel subsidy as her opportunity to attend MagNet, the national magazine conference in Toronto, for the first time.

Rookie on the Road

Off to the MagNet Conference
By publishing industry standards, I am a rookie in the biz with six years under my belt. In terms of the big show, I am the quintessential newbie—everything is still so thrilling to me about this industry. This is my rookie voyage to MagNet. I work mostly remotely so the prospect of being in the company of industry pros always pulls at me. Rookie or not, it’s nice to be with people who understand what I do.

The Conference Experience
Walking into the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott downtown Toronto quells my tenderfoot excitement just a bit. I am struck by the sheer number of people there. A flash of regret surges through my body as the introverted—aka: painfully shy—me questions my sanity for coming at all.

I try to look like I know where to go, but I miss the room I need at least three times. Eventually, I run into some cohorts from the Professional Writers Association of Canada and dutifully become their ‘cling on’, following them to the Marquee presentation room. From keynote speaker Evan Hansen I learn that I really need to buff up my online skills.

Soon I find AMPA Executive Director, Andrew Mah, and AMPA’s own Editor of the Year, Kathe Lemon. Familiar faces were just what this MagNet virgin needed to stay the course. In terms of seminars, MagNet did not disappoint. The seminars completely whet my appetite for this industry. I took something new away from all of them—that is the rookie advantage at these things.

Love of the Magazine Industry Refreshed
As the plane engines rumble under my feet again too soon, I realize my rookie season at MagNet is over. Witnessing the size of our Canadian industry was inspiring. I leave recharged and in love with this industry all over again. I know this is my industry; it’s where I belong.

Thank you AMPA for the opportunity to attend MagNet—it was so worth the investment!

--- Karen D. Crowdis

Karen D. Crowdis is an experienced writer and editor, whose work has appeared in Alberta Conservation’s Discovery Guide, Ottawa Outdoors, Birthing Magazine, various corporate publications, as well as her recently launched blog about balancing life as a writer and family. Clinging to the rebel within, she still listens to music too loud, wrote her honours thesis on heavy metal culture and denies driving a minivan.

Local Food Magazine City Palate Satisfies the Craving

2011-07-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to today's blog contributor and AMPA volunteer Kate Arsenault. As a recent graduate from her post-secondary English program studies, Kate is eager to explore the world of publishing. I asked her to tell me about her passion for foodie magazines, and why she's such a devout reader of City Palate in particular.

The Local Food Magazine Appeal

What is it about local foodie magazines like Calgary’s City Palate or Edmonton’s The Tomato that so draw my attention? They do not simply satisfy a craving that is distinct to who I am as a food lover and a cook. Unlike those generic glossy-paged collections of articles and photographs compiled by an editor in Who-Knows-Where, USA, City Palate is honest, gritty and fresh. Like Albertans, I suppose. Local magazines appeal to me because they are… well, just that. Local.

Culinary Adventures in the City and Beyond

When I open City Palate, I stumble upon a full page advertisement for a year-round farmers market featuring local produce, followed by an article on the many uses of the glorious rhubarb that grows as fast as Calgary itself. Pushing further, I learn of the culinary adventures that exist beyond my own city limits. That, in its essence, is what attracts me to this magazine. From within its pages I hear the call of the just-down-the-street and the call-of-the-wild.

City Palate Draws Albertans In
With the release of every issue my love for this city and this province is cultivated, and I learn more about the people who call Alberta home. City Palate draws Albertans in around a vast dinner table to serve up a taste of who we really are.

--- Kate Arsenault
AMPA Volunteer and Blogger

Support Journalism Students with Third Annual Sugar Bowl Fundraiser

2011-07-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sugar Bowl Tournament and Fundraiser
Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Sugar Bowl Lawn Bowling Tournament and Fundraiser in support of the Amber Webb-Bowerman Memorial Foundation.

When: August 27th, 5pm
Where: The Calgary Lawn Bowling Club, 1238 - 16 Avenue SW
What: The Best Time of Your Life on a Bowling Green (and for a good cause!)

Tickets for Bowling, Cheering, Food and Drink
Tickets cost $70 per person or $280 for a team of four. If you register a full team, you'll get two “fan” tickets ($30 value) as well as team name buttons for your whole group. Fan tickets can also be purchased for $15 each and allow you to come out and cheer the teams on and have food and drink with all of the Sugar Bowlers (you just don’t get to play). All participants will receive a barbecue dinner and two drink tickets.

Raise That Publishing Community Spirit
This is also the prime opportunity for members of the publishing community to face off. Will the Alberta Views team steal the championship this year? Or will it be RedPoint? What about JuneWarren? Or will it be the Swerve team? Or maybe Avenue's Jenn Hamilton will be the dark horse on the winning team once again (pictured above with the Sugar Bowl trophy). Only way to find out is to register and come!

Both team and individual registrations can be found at amberbowerman.ca and you can pay online through Paypal or by mailing a cheque.

Support Journalism Students with Auction Donations
Money raised at the Sugar Bowl will go toward creating an endowment for an ongoing journalism scholarship at Mount Royal University in Amber’s name.

The Amber Webb-Bowerman Memorial Foundation is looking for donations for our Sugar Bowl silent auction. If you have anything you’d like to donate, please contact info@amberbowerman.ca.

Deadline to purchase tickets is Thursday, August 25. See y'all there!

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger in Residence

Sayonara, or until next time...

2011-07-17T19:58:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be wondering about the posting for the AMPA E.D. position. Yes, it's official. I've resigned and will not be returning to steer the AMPA ship this fall. I thought I'd take a moment on the AMPA blog to share a fond farewell. A bit self-indulgent, yes, but I figure if Oprah can do it, why can't I?

When I first took the E.D. position back in 2005, I knew I had a big job to do. I'd never been in such a position before, but with my editorial and communications background, I knew that I could effectively tackle many of AMPA's challenges and at least manage the rest. Talk about a steep learning curve! Despite having worked in magazines, I knew little about the entire industry, and man, did I get schooled! It really is easy to fall into your own little world, putting out your own magazine, without much thought for what else is happening in the industry. I discovered in a hurry the many unique demands that publishers face, and how even within our relatively small industry, these demands vary by genre and size of magazine.

I soon set to work trying to figure out how best to support Alberta publishers to meet these various demands. Two critical factors became evident: professional development and sustainability. And that is how I spent much of my time at AMPA: providing useful and engaging PD to help Alberta magazine professionals compete in an ever-changing media landscape, and devising ways to drum up government and public support for Alberta magazines whether through funding, subscriptions or attending events. In doing so, I've had the chance to work on a number of rewarding projects and see firsthand how different magazines benefited from our work. In particular, I'm proud of how the Alberta Magazines Conference has continued to grow and evolve to the point where speakers would approach me to present instead of me having to woo/stalk them.

Through my work, I also got to know many people within the industry both provincially and nationally--publishers, editors, designers, sales execs, printers, and the like--as well as those outside the industry--funding agencies, government representatives, professors and of course, readers. I'm happy to say that many of these people have come to be not just colleagues but good friends--some of them I'm sure will be life-long friends.

I've always said that the mag biz is one built with passion. This may sound cheesy, but it's true. No one really works in mags for the money or the glamourous lifestyle (ha!). I was always grateful that I had a job that I truly cared about; one that actually had a positive benefit on people's lives and one where I didn't feel like throwing myself out a window after a few months or poking out my eyeballs after a few years.

That said, it's the right time to move on. I never really thought I'd have kids, and while having one has definitely changed my outlook on the world, she's not the only reason I've decided to change gears. While the work at AMPA is never done, I feel like I've done all I needed to do to set the organization up for a long and successful future. Early on, I dealt with some dark financial times, which was important because it taught me to be frugal and creative about how to stretch a dollar. Now we are more fiscally secure than we've ever been. And, after seeing Andrew's hard work in my stead, I'm even more confident the good work AMPA does can and will carry on. Unfortunately, it won't be Andrew who will carry the torch moving forward (he has some exciting plans of his own!), but I'm sure we will find another capable and passionate individual to continue down this path. (Interested readers, please see posting below.)

I will still be involved with AMPA as a consultant and blogger, and will still cross paths with many member magazines as a freelance writer/editor (wink, wink, nudge, nudge editors!). In the meantime, I thank all of you for helping to make my time at AMPA so gratifying, and I hope that I was able to support you in some way during that time. Onward and upward! Or as Op would say, "Live your best life."

--Colleen Seto

[Former AMPA Executive Director]
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Take the Helm at AMPA! Be the Next Executive Director

2011-07-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Executive Director, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA)
(posted July 14, 2011)
Deadline to apply: August 5, 2011

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association is looking for a highly skilled professional to take the helm. As executive director, you will provide overall management and leadership in the implementation of a varied set of programs and services, under the direction of a Board of Directors.

AMPA is a non-profit, member-based association that works to support Alberta’s magazine publishing industry. Services that AMPA provides include professional development workshops, an annual conference, promotional campaigns, networking events and support for internships, and travel bursaries.

Your job as executive director is to plan, execute and evaluate all of the programs and services that AMPA offers. You will need to do so in a manner consistent with the mission and goals of AMPA and under the direction of a Board of Directors. You will also need to respond to the changing needs of your membership, while fulfilling obligations to sponsors and funders.

Read the full job description and qualifications

Automating Editorial with Kapost

2011-07-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

An Online System for Content Production
I recently read an article in Folio about automating the editorial workflow with a service called Kapost. Kapost claims to "handle the entire content production process: from pitch to payment and everything in between. Enable your editorial team to focus on audience and content, not administrative tasks." This intrigued me. Having worked as a magazine editor, and now as a freelance editor and writer, I was curious how such a system would work.

Addressing a Complex Editorial Process
Basically, the whole production workflow occurs online; writers pitch and submit stories online while editors assign and publish. It appears like a simple linear process. But, as we all know, the editorial process is rarely simple or linear. I'm not sure that Kapost accounts for the many occasions where a story is submitted late, changes direction or is hung up in editing; it doesn't seem to show what draft a story might be at or who is doing the editing. This is often where I find that things get bumpy.

The Kapost system also gives an overview of what stories have been pitched and assigned along with payment information. This might work if you get a significant number of strong pitches from which your content is derived, but most editors I know only use a small percentage of ideas that are pitched to them. More often, the story ideas are generated internally or the stories are variations of pitched ideas. I didn't see where such an exchange would occur with Kapost. It seems an editor would still have to get in touch with the writer to rework an idea before assigning, plus you'd then have to go into Kapost to update what's there, which would actually add an administrative task instead of reducing them.

Editorial is Creative in Nature
The idea of automating editorial is a nice one, but the very nature of editorial is creative, which means that it rarely lends itself to a streamlined process. There are always hiccups to address, which is what many editors find themselves attending to as much as to the hands-on duties of assigning and editing.

I'm thinking that a publisher who is trying to tighten purse strings is unlikely to spend money on a workflow service that can be accomplished with an excel spreadsheet and an editorial team that communicates well (a skill most good editors possess).

The Final Verdict on Kapost
So, I'm unconvinced that Kapost could really automate workflow effectively, but such a service could spur staffers to review their processes and see how things can be improved. That is never a bad thing.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

The Future of Digital Publishing (Part Two)

2011-07-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

For this second and final post summarizing AMPA’s recent “Publishing in the Digital Age” luncheon, I wanted to focus a bit more on the insight that Evan Hansen provided about the success of the Wired brand.

Website Fully Independent From Magazine
From the outside it’s not always evident that the digital side of Wired.com is fully editorially independent from the Wired magazine staff. The digital staff does not consult the magazine’s editorial team about their daily content (although they do interact and share information). The 43 full-time freelancers employed by Wired.com publish up to 40 original articles daily; this means that the website has a pace and an attitude more like that of a daily newspaper (short articles, short deadlines) than that of their magazine counterpart.

Adapt the Brand for Different Digital Platforms
This is the key to the Wired brand’s success: their focus is on brand development, and adapting this brand to each unique communication channel and digital platform. “Each platform requires a very tailored approach. The medium is the message” says Hansen. For Wired.com this meant investing heavily in original daily news-reporting, breaking news and investigative journalism.

Revenues from Digital Side
It’s evident that this focus on the digital side of the brand is working: digital revenues from Wired.com account for 40% of the Wired brand (including the magazine), representing a shift towards a “Digital 51” moment when 51% of the company’s revenues will be coming from the digital side. Wired magazine is incredibly successful as a print publication and with their new app, yet on the web the magazine’s digital edition accounts for less than 5% of web traffic. If the magazine was all Wired did, the brand would be a dismal failure.

Don't Act Like a Magazine, Act Like a Website
It was Hansen’s last piece of advice that best summarized the theme of his overall presentation: “Recast your brand for the web. The web is the web. If you want to succeed, don't act like a magazine, act like a web site.”

---Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

The Future of Digital Publishing (Part One of Two)

2011-06-27T13:30:00.001-07:00

Photo courtesy D Molyneaux Photography

Big Picture Perspective on Digital Publishing
There are no certainties when it comes to predicting the future, especially when it comes to digital publishing. Understandably, some prefer to sit back and see how this all plays out before launching headfirst into the unknown. It can’t hurt, however, to hear the perspective of some of the bigger players, gleaning tips where they apply to your business, storing the rest as knowledge of the bigger picture.

Luncheon with Wired.com Editor in Chief
All of this is to say that there was much to be learned at the “Publishing in the Digital Age ” luncheon with Evan Hansen, editor-in-chief of Wired.com. It’s true, Hansen has a digital team that most small publishers in the audience could only dream of. There were, however, some broader themes to consider (and yes, more questions than answers).

Building Online Brand and Community
To the many magazine publishers in the audience, Hansen reassured them that print is still very much alive; that said, magazine publishers will have to start thinking of themselves as much more than print publishers in this digital era—it’s about building brand and developing community.

Questioning the Essence of the Magazine
Hansen highlighted how new forms of communications technologies are profoundly changing written culture; with the introduction of the iPad, for example, the mobile web traffic at Wired.com went from 2% to 20% in less than one year. All of this raises conceptual concerns for our industry: What is the essence of a magazine? Can it exist on a mobile app, iphone, etc? How far can we push the notion of a magazine before it becomes something else entirely? What are the core values that need to be preserved?

Mobile Devices Monetizing Content
On the business side of things, Hansen sees the advent of mobile device capabilities as revolutionary for monetizing online. With apps, people are warming up to the notion of paying for content with their mobile devices; this shift to mobile consumption suggests that publishers must turn to these platforms as a way to recapture some of their online value. Hansen’s advice is to start small, with enhanced features for paid content, for example, and see how this plays out.

Stay tuned for Part Two of "The Future of Digital Publishing"...

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

A Pondering About Magazine Awards...

2011-06-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Where were the Alberta Awards Accolades?

The awards season has wrapped once again. Shout-out to Anders Knudsen for winning Best Art Direction—Cover for the December 2010 issue of Avenue Calgary at the Western Magazine Awards (WMAs).

There were no big surprises with The Walrus leading the wins at the National Magazine Awards (NMAs) and Swerve doing the same at the WMAs. The winner of Best Cover at the NMAs did stir up some fuss, but frankly, I was pleased to see an underdog get some recognition.

I was disappointed that more Alberta magazines didn’t come away with accolades. There is certainly no shortage of talent here. So what’s up?

Big Awards for Big Budget Magazines
Well, there are a few things to consider (and I'm not just making excuses, really!). First, the costs. Many magazines are on such tight budgets that they have no money to devote to sometimes hefty entry fees. Or they can only enter one or two pieces versus 20 or 30. As well, in the magazine world, you often get what you pay for. So, big-budget mags can hire the best writers who tend to have more winning pieces. Big-budget mags also tend to have great editors and art directors for the same reasons. And so, the winner’s circle tends to be somewhat small. (There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule, but you get what I’m saying.)

Time and Familiarity Are Factors
Second, it takes time to select and prepare entries. For mags with tiny staffs or which are volunteer-run, this almost immediately takes them out of the running. Third, familiarity and subjectivity play a role in who wins. Human nature often has us selecting what is “best” based on what we are familiar and comfortable with; what we know and love essentially. Alberta magazines may not have the same reach as larger mags.

Alberta Industry Still Growing
Finally, while the Alberta industry has made great strides in the level of creativity and professionalism, it’s still young and has room to grow compared to some other parts of the country. But certainly several of our titles are analogous to national ones.

The Awards Judging Process
Having judged for both the NMAs and WMAs, I know firsthand that the spectrum of entries is gargantuan. Some are truly spectacular while others are lacking at best. The whole process is somewhat tricky. Judges only see an entry in and of itself. But this is not how they exist in reality. A feature exists within the pages of a magazine—that is, with other content all packaged together. And so, judges rarely experience an entry as a reader does. Also, judges don’t often know what a magazine’s mission or audience are—two critical factors for how a story comes together. If judges don’t fit the target, the story may have little appeal to them.

Alberta and Indy Magazine Recognition, Please
All said, there will always be winners and losers. Most of the time, the winners genuinely deserve the recognition. I just wish that more Alberta magazines, or independent publishers in general, were able to throw their hats in the mix for consideration.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

MagNet National Magazine Conference Summary

2011-06-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Links to Conference Session Summaries
This year's national magazine conference MagNet, hosted by Magazines Canada, took place in Toronto June 7 - 10, 2011. I wasn't able to attend myself this year, so I did some digging for postings of session summaries, highlights and feedback, the links for which I thought I'd share below.

Kat Tancock (winner of this year's Tweeting prize) also provides her notes and links for several sessions on the Masthead blog and on her own blog Magazines Online:

Nestor" E. Arellano blogs about the “Money Makers: New – and Ethical – Ideas for Advertising and Editorial” panel moderated by Peter Carter (Today’s Trucking) with feature speakers Laura Dunphy (Salon), Erin McLaughlin (Style at Home & Canadian Gardening) and Tara Tucker (LOULOU Magazine).

Future of Media presents highlights of the MagNet Marquee keynote presentation “Welcome to the Digital Jungle” with Evan Hansen of Wired.com.

Conference Speaker Audio Podcasts
If you’re eager to hear more from MagNet 2011, Magazines Canada has two new AudioMag podcasts featuring this year’s speakers:

AudioMag Episode 26: Chuck Underwood (keynote) provides an understanding of the pioneering research he does into generational differences, and how it differs from traditional demographics.

AudioMag Episode 25: Meg Pickard with her tips on what makes a successful blog, and how to create digital engagement online.

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Tweets from Presentation with Evan Hansen of WIRED.com

2011-06-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy D Molyneaux Photography

I'm still reeling (in a good way!) from yesterday's "Publishing in the Digital Age" luncheon with Evan Hansen, editor-in-chief of WIRED.com. I may follow-up with a more in-depth summary of presentation highlights for next week's MagaScene e-newsletter. In the meantime I thought I'd share some tweetables with those of you who weren't following along on twitter (#WiredInYYC):

Print is still alive, but think of yourselves as something broader than publishers.
Conceptual concern in our industry: What is the nature of a magazine? Core values to preserve?
Shift to mobile is changing consumer behaviour to an extent we've never seen before.
Instead of editorial decisions, it's now online metrics that determine which content rises to the top.
The iPad is the biggest source of mobile traffic for wired.com. Everyone should start to build their mobile app.
People are warming up to the concept of paid content on mobile devices.
Digital revenues account for 40% of the Wired brand (including the magazine).
Each platform requires a very tailored approach, you can't just transfer content across media.
The Wired.com web operation is fully editorially independent of the Wired magazine staff. They have daily editorial content, with a schedule more like that of a print newspaper.
Recast your brand for the web. Wired.com puts a premium on investigative stories, concentrating on daily content.
Let your digital team at the magazine function independently of the magazine for their content creation.
Future of advertising on web: people want cross-platform. Partnership, sponsorship, something unique
The web is the web. If you want to succeed, don't act like a magazine, act like a web site

There was so much more to tweet, but alas the irony of limited cell reception prevented a better online presence on my part, so thank you to @jesspatterson, @icameforthefood, @allisonmcneely, @BridalFantasy, @Andrew_NVS and @DaveatNORTH for engaging in the twitter sharing and conversation!

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Back-to-work legislation to end postal lockout

2011-06-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Back-to-work Legislation for Postal Workers
So it looks like Harper's government is going to introduce back-to-work legislation next week to end the postal lockout, according to an article in Masthead. That's good news for the many magazine publishers and other small business owners who rely on postal service to deliver their products.

Role of Postal Service in Online World
In light of this lockout, how critical is the postal service to your business or your daily life for that matter? Given how much I use e-mail and e-billing and the like, I really never thought I used the post office that often, but in reality, I do. I get my magazines; I get my community rags; I get my stuff I order online. These are all things I need and/or want that I rely on Canada Post to get to me.

More Efficient Postal System
But would it hurt if our mail went to three days a week instead of daily? I don't necessarily think so. Canada Post says it lost $100 million from the rotating strikes, but those strikes showed that a different mail schedule could work. If nothing else, I hope all of this acts as a catalyst for Canada Post to look at ways to become more efficient and cost-effective for everyone--staff, customers, management--involved.

--- Colleen Seto AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Meet Evan Hansen (The Man Behind Wired.com)

2011-06-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

“We’re trying to one-up Google.” You know you’re in the big leagues when you aim to have your own web reputation ranking tool contend with the leading search engine. That was one of several ambitions outlined by Wired.com editor-in-chief Evan Hansen in a 2008 interview with Foliomag.com.

It certainly didn’t hurt to think big, with 2009 proving to be a landmark year for the website. It had emerged stronger than ever from the merger of three years prior, which saw Conde Nast acquire Wired.com from Lycos and re-unite the site with their magazine counterpart Wired.

There were also awards accolades aplenty for Wired.com in 2009: winners of the prestigious title of Best Magazine Website from both the MPA (The Association of Magazine Media) and AdWeek; honoured for their experiments in user-generated reporting methods by the Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism; and recognized as a Finalist for Best Interactive Feature from ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors).

In other words Hansen, the man behind Wired.com for the past six years, knows a thing or two about successful online publishing.

That's why the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association decided to bring him to Calgary, as part of the Joint Marketing Initiative lecture series, in partnership with the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Marketing Association, Digital Alberta, and the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association. Hansen will speak at the Publishing in the Digital Age luncheon event June 21st at Hotel Arts in Calgary.

[updated: This event is SOLD OUT!!!]

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Pages of Stories Online Literary Magazine

2011-06-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to one of AMPA’s newest literary additions, Pages of Stories. Originally developed by Darlene Poier and her husband Gary, Pages of Stories brings an abundance of short stories to each issue. It’s based out of a small town magazine situated in Crossfield, Alberta, but this digital magazine has big dreams: “We are situated in a little town in Alberta, Canada but we aim to have our published stories come from all over the world.” (As a side note: I grew up in a small West coast town and, not to brag or anything, we brought you The Beachcombers series and Charlie St. Cloud.)

If you’d like a sneak peek of the magazine, check out the Bits of Pages section. Be forewarned, you might just get hooked and subscribe!

To read more about the magazine, the publisher, or to follow the blog, click here: http://www.pagesofstories.com/index.php

---Andrea Cubala
Volunteer AMPA Blogger

Awards season is here: Alberta Oil Wins at KRW, plus, don't miss: NMAs, WMAs, Oilweek's Rising Stars

2011-06-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Alberta Oil published by Edmonton's Venture Publishing, for multiple wins at the 57th Kenneth R. Wilson (KRW) Awards. The awards for business press journalism were presented in Toronto. There were 20 awards handed out from 174 nominations from 62 business-to-business magazines.

Alberta Oil won both gold and silver in the Best Photograph category, as well as a gold for Best/Resource/Infrastructure Article. Congratulations to all the contributors!

Best Resource/Infrastructure Article
Gold
Gordon Jaremko
Launching Pad

Best News Coverage
Honourable Mention
Jeff Lewis
Nuclear Winter

Best Photograph
Gold
Kelly Redinger
Ripe for Picking

Silver
Michael Morrison
A Long Shadow

Best Illustration
Honourable Mention
Todd Julie
Carbon Reins

About: Alberta Oil magazine offers its readers a unique insight into the Canadian energy sector, a community attracting international attention as "the quiet energy superpower." Throughout the pages of Alberta Oil, readers meet those individuals who are shaping the policy, the practice and the pursuits of Canada's energy industry.

Get your gala wear ready for the red carpet and celebrate publishing's many luminaries:

The National Magazine Awards ceremony takes place tonight in Toronto. View details and the NMA nominees.

Mags West and The Western Magazine Awards will be announced June 17th in Vancouver. See the WMA finalists.

Oilweek's Rising Star Awards celebrate the oil and gas industry's up and coming stars June 29th in Calgary. Purchase tickets and see the winners.

Spacing Road Show to hit Edmonton and Calgary!

2011-06-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Spacing magazine is going national!

In support of its first national issue, publisher Matthew Blackett and editor Shawn Micallef are heading out on a cross-Canada tour to celebrate the launch of the national issue and to lead discussions on urbanism and city design in the nation's big cities.

You may remember Matt from when he was an AMC speaker a few years ago and shared his tips for clever marketing and circulation campaigns. Based on how noteworthy Toronto-based Spacing has been to date, the national issue of Spacing is sure to be a good read.

The Spacing tour will hit Edmonton on Wednesday, June 22 at the Art Gallery of Alberta and Calgary on Friday, June 24 at Bankers Court.

Each party will feature a panel with the Spacing team and three local panelists to discuss the top public spaces in Edmonton and Calgary as well as the state of good design. Panelists are still to be announced although they've just confirmed local blogger Mack Male for Edmonton.

COST: $5 (gets you in the door and a copy of the new national issue)

See the Edmonton and Calgary Facebook event pages for full details.

--- Colleen Seto AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Publishing in the Digital Age - Luncheon with Wired.com

2011-06-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

These days, the lines between being a publisher, editor, and technologist are blurring. While content remains king, multiplying forms of delivery and consumption require both the ability to adapt, and the savvy to take advantage of new business models and opportunities.

At the "Publishing in the Digital Age" luncheon Evan Hansen, Editor-in-Chief of Wired.com, will provide insight into the worlds of digital, online and mobile platform publishing through his experiences as the steward of one of the world’s most innovative and viewed online sites.

For those that decry the death of print and paid content, Hansen offers an inspirational perspective—that we are on the verge of a brave new world that encourages content providers to act as brand managers, leveraging traditional print and online presences to colonize an array of growing business opportunities: including apps, e-books and digital interactive ads.

"Publishing in the Digital Age" is presented by the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, as part of the Joint Marketing Initiative lecture series, in partnership with the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Marketing Association, Digital Alberta, and the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association.

Register for "Publishing in the Digital Age" by Thursday June 16, 2011 at 4:00pm. Registration will close before June 16 if all available spots are sold. Space is limited, so register early!

Almost Summer Water Cooler Update

2011-05-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

Time to confab about peeps in publishing! Thanks for sharing your people news. As the weather heats up, so too will the gossip, or so I hope!

If you know of any other such news, please do let me know. Or, if you’re wondering what someone is up to these days and would like me to get the scoop, drop me a line as well!

In case you haven’t been watching already, check out My Rona Home on Citytv where Avenue Calgary’s Käthe Lemon is one of the show’s judges. There are only two episodes left to air on upcoming Sunday nights, but you can view all past episodes online.
Welcome to Venture Publishing’s new editors! Mike Ganley is now at the helm of the editorial team at Alberta Venture. He was formerly editor of Up Here Business magazine in Yellowknife. Darren Campbell took over as editor of Alberta Oil magazine from Gord Jaremko back in January. See full details here.
Congrats to Redpoint Media editors Abby Miller and Tony Charron who tied the knot last month. Best wishes to the happy couple.
AMPA’s former RAMM coordinator and all-around events specialist Angy McIntyre has recently joined the Calgary WordFest team on contract to manage volunteers. So, if you’re interested in volunteering, let us know and we’ll connect you.
Bon voyage to Kelie Jensen, former associate publisher for Alberta Views, who wrapped things up at the magazine earlier this month to prepare to move to New Zealand in July with husband Stephen and two-year-old son, Finn. Kelie worked at Views since 2004 in a few different positions including controller. Kelie, who is perhaps best known for her role as "orc no. 8" in Lord of the Rings, will be missed by her Views coworkers as well as others in Calgary’s magazine and arts community. All the best, Kelie!

--- Colleen Seto AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

To Post or Not to Post?

2011-05-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

[updated June 2]

Say what you want about the role of Canada's postal service in our "e-nabled" age of online billing, banking, emailing and socializing, but there's no time like the present day state of postal union negotiations to contemplate the reasons we'd miss our snail mail.

If you haven't yet heard, Canada's magazine industry is atwitter about the possibility of a strike as, at latest word, it's announced that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) intends to begin strike activities at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 2, 2011. This doesn't mean that it's a done deal, but after seven months of negotiations this 72-hour strike notice means business--or no business, if you're in the magazine industry.

In the meantime, publishers and printers are forced to sit on their latest issues and direct mail campaigns until further word. Freelancers are left wondering if that much anticipated cheque will arrive. Many businesses still pay bills with cheques, and question whether they should risk it or go the pricey-but-reliable courier route.

If you're looking for updates and insight on the strike, here are a couple of resources:

You can go straight to the source with Canada Post's Customer Information Hub

For the other side of the story, check out the PostThis video blog of Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)

For some industry insight, on the Canadian Magazines blog you'll find a whole history of posts under the "Canada Post" label

Hear what the folks on twitter have to say about the strike, by following hashtags #canadapost, #canadapoststrike, and #cupw

For insight on how publishers have further incentive to find an alternative to the postal system, read "Editorial: postal strike spells disaster for all, especially union" from Masthead Online

Beth Ed, associate publisher of AMPA Member Alberta Views talked to CBC Calgary's Jim Brown about the impact of a potential magazine strike http://tinyurl.com/3pfp3v8

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Lasting Legacy for Amber Bowerman

2011-05-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Three years after we lost Amber, I'm happy to report that good is still happening in her name.

Today, on the eve of the third year anniversary of her passing, the Amber Webb-Bowerman Memorial Foundation (AWBMF) announced the creation of a lasting legacy for its namesake during a press conference at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary.

Photo by Greg Fulmes

Through the generous and kind efforts of donors, the AWBMF has met its endowment fundraising objective for the SAIT Polytechnic journalism scholarship in Amber’s name. The final cheque for the SAIT endowment was presented today by the Foundation’s President, Käthe Lemon, to Debby Deniset, the Annual Giving Manager of SAIT Alumni and Development. The amount of the cheque was $10,497.93 reaching a total of more than $28,500 in the endowment, which will ensure that a journalism scholarship of $1,000 a year will be given in perpetuity.

“This isn’t the most significant donation ever in terms of the absolute amount, but it is truly a huge donation in terms of the number of people who came together to make it happen and who put their thoughts into making something positive from tragedy,” says Käthe.

I'm so proud to be a founding and current board member of the AWBMF and of all those who have helped us reach this goal, whether by donating money, time, goods or participating at our fundraising events. We weren't sure what could be done when we began, we just knew we wanted, no needed, to do something to honour Amber and continue the work she started.

This SAIT endowment fund is the just the first of what we hope to be many scholarships in Amber's name. It is through such efforts that we can find some solace in losing such a great person. Here's to you, Amber. We miss you!

See the full press release here.

--- Colleen Seto

AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

May MagaScene: Awards Season Highlights, New Grant Deadlines, Publishing Workshops...

2011-05-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

FEATURE
Magazine Award Season Highlights: Your Guide to Events and Finalists

Awards season is upon us! Join in the celebration and recognition of our industry’s talents and accomplishments...

NEWS

Business Innovation Grants Offered through the Canada Periodical Fund

Alberta Cultural Industry Grant Program New Guidelines and Dates!

Venture Publishing Welcomes New Editors

Routes Awards Short Story Fiction Prize

2011 Summer Publishing Workshops at Simon Fraser University

EVENTS

Alberta Literary Awards Shortlist Celebration May 24, 2011
MagNet 2011: Canada's Magazine Conference June 7-10
Magazines West and Western Magazine Awards June 17

Oilweek Rising Stars Awards Celebration June 29

3rd Annual Sugar Bowl Fundraiser August 27

CONTESTS/CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Canadian Online Publishing Awards June 24
Alberta Views Annual Short Story Contest June 30

BLOGS

Fellow Industry Blogger's Outstanding Achievement posted May 2

Arts and Lit Mags: Alive and Well posted May 3

AMPA Goes to the Edge of Print posted May 11

Share Your People News! posted May 12

LawNow Goes All Digital posted May 16

JOBS

Intermediate Web Designer, Soul Integrated Solutions Deadline May 26

Project Coordinator, Soul Integrated Solutions Deadline May 26

LawNow Goes All Digital

2011-05-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

After 35 years as a print publication, LawNow has transformed into a digital publication. The digital edition launched with the March/April issue and includes content that continues to showcase the best in public legal information and education.

Despite its loyal readership, the magazine struggled financially and had to make the tough decision to stop printing. LawNow was able to adapt its content to suit its new medium, and its paying off.

Production assistant Kristy Rhyason tells me, “We thought we would lose many subscribers, but the response was overwhelmingly positive. Many people upgraded their subscriptions so their whole offices could have online access. We also improved our access to back issues and upgraded our search engine, so people are better able to view all our articles past and present.”

Though the LawNow staff is sad to see the print edition go, they are also excited about the new prospects that digital offers. Editor Teresa Mitchell outlines this enthusiasm in her Viewpoint piece in the inaugural online mag:

[T]his change means that I have the opportunity to learn, adapt, grow, smile, and be very grateful to be able to continue to do what I have loved to do for over twenty years: read, research, edit and write about the law, and continue to work with our wonderful contributors. I’m still a reader: it’s just that now, I read online. We hope that you, too, will continue to read, online!

Check it out at www.lawnow.org.

--- Colleen Seto AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Share Your People News!

2011-05-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Yes it's true. I tuned in to the Royal Wedding. I didn't really intend to (though I do enjoy Royals watching), but I was having trouble sleeping and got up to watch the telly since I knew I'd have to get up to feed Annabel shortly anyhow. I missed the actual ceremony itself, but saw much of the pomp and circumstance leading up to it (including Princess Beatrice's horrendous hat. What was she thinking!?). And then of course, I watched the ceremony several times afterward as it was replayed endlessly the next day. And I was not alone. Millions of viewers tuned in. And millions wanted to savour the moment with memorabilia including People magazine's Royal Wedding issue.

According to an article in Audience Development, the issue was People's largest in four years with 220 pages. They even altered their publishing schedule so consumers wouldn't have to wait until the following Friday to get the collector's issue. Plus, the People website got a record 162 million hits on the day of the wedding. Sales figures for the issue have yet to be released, but I expect they'll be high.

Which leads me to wonder what sort of other events garner this much attention? Are there events which your magazines dedicate whole issues to? If not, should there be? How can magazines use special events relevant to their audiences to develop content around and drum up both circulation and ad sales?

Let me know your thoughts.

AND, let me know about your people news and events, too. I'd like to share the various happenings of Alberta magazine folks on this blog so your fellow colleagues can keep up. So let me know what's happening at your magazine. New hires? Retirees? Kick someone to the curb? And share your personal excitement such as weddings and babies too! It'll give us some new water-cooler talk plus maybe eliminate some awkward social moments. (Although I must admit, I really quite enjoy those!)

--- Colleen Seto AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

AMPA Goes to the Edge of Print

2011-05-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I loaded up my wee Yaris with boxes of member magazines, and hit the road (literally, that poor bumper was weighed-down) for At the Edge of Print, the 2011 Get Publishing Conference at Grant MacEwan University.

This was my first time at the bi-annual conference, which this year reached a record 100-plus participants. It was also my chance to meet more of our Edmonton members, interact with the larger publishing community, and ultimately get the word out about Alberta's magazines.

The Friday night keynote address connected our Edmonton audience via live video-conference (a brave a/v feat that went off without a hitch) with Andrew Steeves in Nova Scotia, the founder, owner, publisher, printer, editor (you name it, he does it, and it's all self-taught) of Gaspereau Press.

I missed the Saturday keynote, Minister Faust, to set up AMPA's tradeshow booth, but I hear it was a hit. And so was our booth! Writers, editors, publishers and students crowded to get their hands on the free samples of Alberta magazines, and to pick up their colourful AMPA swag (many compliments on our branding, courtesy of Gillian Bishop):

I started off my professional developing for the day by attending the AMPA-sponsored "Tales from the Blogosphere: Passions, Politics, and Profit" with panelists Dave Cournoyer (daveberta.ca), Jennifer Cockrall-King (foodgirl.ca) and Kathryn Burke (LDExperience.ca). Each panelist shared their unique blogging stories, and you can read the highlights on twitter (through @albertamags and/or #GPEdge).

I was also keen to hear from Joyce Byrne (@joyce_byrne), associate publisher of Venture Publishing Inc. (think Alberta Oil and Alberta Venture, amongst many others) with her session "Shifting Gears: New Trends in Magazine Publishing." Here are a few of her many quotable tips for writers (with my own comments included, of course!):

Many editors no longer read the resume with your pitch, they just Google you (LinkedIn and blogs are the new resume)
As a writer, breadth can be as important as your ability to write in different styles (specialization is so 1990)
No Dumping Online: take care with your online writing, ensure that it's well-groomed & edited

Never fear, however, you aren't dependent on me to glean the gems from this presentation, since Joyce has kindly posted her presentation for you to read in all it's glory: http://portal.sliderocket.com/ARCJX/My-Presentation-1

The evening ended with a banquet and entertainment, as all evenings should, to cap off a great event. Kudos to the Get Publishing Communications Society, and the many volunteers who helped pull off this year's conference!

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Arts and Lit Mags; Alive and Well

2011-05-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

[This post has been updated.]

The Canada Council for the Arts recently released a study of benchmarks for Canadian mags based on 2010 applications to its Grants to Arts and Literary Magazines. Here’s a recap:

The number of titles has remained steady for the past decade sitting at 90 (60 in English and 30 en francais.
Half a million copies were in circulation throughout the year.
These mags served more than 75,000 subscribers.
The arts and lit mag industry makes up a $5 million enterprise with 2/5 of revenues coming from mag sales and 2/5 from advertising sales. The remaining fifth comes from various sources.
Overall revenue comes in at about $10 million with grants making up roughly half of all income.
These mags generate about 200 full-time-equivalent jobs.
Magazines are critical in the creation of “social capital”.
Overall, it’s clear that arts and lit titles are dependent on Canada Council funding.

The study gives arts and lit publishers a sense of how their operations and costs compare against their peers, keeping in mind that many aspects are covered off by volunteers or low-paid interns. The biggest costs are overhead (30 to 36%) and editorial (21 to 30%). The full study can be viewed at magazinescanada.com/benchmarks.

Unfortunately, like most government funding, very few Alberta magazines receive Canada Council support. That said, it also speaks volumes about the tenacity these publishers possess to continue publishing their titles especially given how many titles rely on Canada Council dollars to publish.

AMPA is always looking at ways to support this special group of magazines. If you have ideas for how AMPA can help your arts and lit title, drop us a line at ampa@albertamagazines.com or post a comment here so we can have a public chat about it! For readers, be sure to check out AMPA's 30% off promotion for arts and lit titles.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Fellow Industry Blogger's Outstanding Achievement

2011-05-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to share the news that fellow magazine industry blogger D.B. Scott has been awarded the 2010 Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement from the National Magazine Awards Foundation.

This may come as little surprise, but D.B. Scott's Canadian Magazines blog has proved invaluable to me as a resource for industry news to share with our readers, and I can't thank him enough for providing a model for my own Alberta Magazines blogging. Congratulations D.B., it's well-deserved!

I thought I'd share an excerpt from the NMAF awards announcement:

"With a dynamic career spanning four decades, D.B. Scott has earned his reputation as an eminent authority in the Canadian magazine industry [...] D.B. presides over the industry’s most widely read and go-to blog, Canadian Magazines.

Kat Tancock, senior web editor at Reader’s Digest, says 'I remember poring over his archives when I was new to the industry to try and glean as much information as possible about the world I was trying to inhabit, and it was like reading a textbook on how things work and how people interact.'

In calling for his nomination as this year’s Outstanding Achievement recipient, John Macfarlane, editor and co-publisher of The Walrus called D.B.’s blog a 'public square' and noted, 'when [D.B] chooses to mount his soapbox, he is invariably informed, fair-minded and wise.'"

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Blogging for Magazines: A Strong Example in Western Horse Review

2011-04-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

AMPA’s Blogging Session

On April 19 (Calgary) and April 20 (Edmonton), AMPA hosted the session "Best Blogging Tips for Editors" with speaker Hilary Henegar, the web whiz editor behind GranvilleOnline.ca. You know your speaker has addressed the needs and interests of a broad audience when they're congratulated afterwards with the comment: "the best investment of my time in months." Way to go, Hilary! AMPA Blogger Colleen Seto has done a great job of summing up Hilary’s tips in her post "An Idiot's Guide to Blogging" (and yes, one of the tips was that certain words, idiot for instance, bring in traffic).

Western Horse Review Magazine Offers Strong Example

All of this blog talk had me thinking about one members’ blog efforts that stand out for me as exemplary of everything Hilary emphasized at the sessions: the four blogs (that’s right, four of them!) from Western Horse Review (WHR). I’ll admit, I have little personal knowledge of or interest in horses, but that doesn’t stop me from truly appreciating all that goes into these regularly updated, often personal and always informative blog posts.

And it’s not even always horse-speak! A recent post in “My Stable Life” by Jenn Webster offers a photo-filled glimpse into her personal life; this is one of the great ways that WHR builds relationships with their readers, bringing to light the personality behind the blog.

So You Want to Be a Blogger? I wanted to learn more about all of the work that goes into keeping WHR’s four blogs current and engaging, so I posed a few questions to Ingrid Schulz, WHR magazine editor and “Screen Doors & Saddles” blogger.

Do you pay your bloggers?

Our bloggers are paid either on a monthly salary or "per-post." We don't have a large budget for paying bloggers, they themselves generally have an interest either in promoting the western riding world, and having their writing published.

How is blogging beneficial to your magazine/business?

We deliver a lot of content through our blogs. It's been a real journey partnering up our online voice with our magazine voice. We're still finding our way, but it's coming together, the path is presenting itself. Blogging has tremendously raised the awareness of our magazine.

Do you have any specific instructions, tips or advice for your writers?

My request of all potential bloggers is that they submit 10-15 completed blog posts to me. I don't hear back from 99% of them. It's simple, but it's a great exercise in understanding the commitment involved in this venture.

I composed posts for a year, prior to going live. Not only did the store of posts help me get through busy times at the magazine, but this method allowed me to develop a real voice for myself. It gave me a stronger start out of the gate.

Bloggers are not an "online journalists." Successful bloggers are more like interesting, entertaining and opinionated friends, but they need to be trustworthy as well. We have to know our stuff. I feel very accountable for what I write.

Finally, impassivity about your subject matter will translate to your readers. It's hard to fake it as a blogger. Be passionate about what you've chosen to blog about. If you're not, really, what's the point?

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Check out the Consumer Mag Fact Book for Ad Sales Support

2011-04-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet seen Magazine Canada's 2010 Consumer Magazine Fact Book, go check it out now. It's chock full of industry info and presented in a way that will help you answer those tough questions about ROI and reader engagement.

Whether you need some quick facts and figures, or want more in-depth outlooks on trends and research studies about the Canadian consumer magazine industry, you'll find it in this book. It's great fodder for your media kits, and will complement your own numbers for your magazine and readership.

There's also a Fact Book for business/trade mags for those trade pubs out there.

--- Colleen Seto AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Digital Publishing: Good for Landfills, Bad for Ads? (In Honour of Earth Day)

2011-04-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

The landfills may be getting a bit of a break as increasingly more magazines are going paperless in favour of digital. Yet things aren’t always as they seem, and both publishers and advertisers face a dilemma: keep up with the times (and out of the landfills) by going online, or stick to print where advertising remains most effective.

Image source Green Living Blog

Recent studies have shown that consumers pay more attention to print advertisements than they do to online ones. In fact, 55% of U.S. consumers reported that they used advertisements in printed magazines as ways of learning about new products; a significant number when one considers how much time we spend online. So should magazines continue to go increasingly digital, or should they take a step back and let the profits dictate the direction?

For more on the state of consumers and advertising in the good ‘ole print world, go to:

http://www.magazinescanada.ca/advertising_news?news_id=812

---Andrea Cubala
Volunteer AMPA Blogger

An Idiot's Guide to Blogging

2011-04-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, AMPA hosted a blogging session with Granville editor Hilary Henegar in Calgary, and she’s doing it again today in Edmonton. Here’s a recap of what she had to share.

First, set your online editorial mandate to parallel that of your magazine’s. Even though you’re on a different platform with different tools, your website should reflect the same voice and brand of your print product. This may seem obvious, but I’ve seen a number of websites that seem like completely separate entities from their print mags.

Recruit bloggers who can and will take ownership. Reliable bloggers help generate traffic by building relationships with readers, and they often use social media to spread the word. Regular contributors are one source. In return, you have to pay these folks. But it may not cost as much as you think if they want that publicity and credibility. If you can’t pay a lot (or at all), try using contra; offering training, exposure and feedback; or develop partnerships instead. But be forewarned, free can often mean more work and less control on your end.

Of utmost importance, Hilary emphasizes how the online space is a community that’s all about karma. If you invest in it, you will get the return. This can come in the form of dollars, time and links.

Overall, blog content should be:

Concise and visual
Short bits of high-impact content (e.g., infographics)
Sharable
Clickable
Chunky (use subheads and captions)

She offers a few examples of magazines with strong websites/blogs:

Uppercase (an example of a local mag doing a simple, yet effective blog for its niche on the free tumblr blog software)

You’ll probably notice that many of the mags have more than one blog organized by subject and/or writer. That’s right folks, whether to have a blog is no longer the question. It’s now about how many blogs and on what topics.

Thanks to Hilary for some good tips. I’m testing her theory about using the word “idiot” in my headline. Apparently it means we’ll get 10 times the traffic. We shall see!

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Red Bull, Bull Riding and Cardboard Cuts: Behind the Scenes of the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference

2011-04-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

For our member e-publication Currents, we asked Alberta Magazines Awards Coordinator Anh Chu to share an insider's perspective on the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference. We loved her article so much that we thought we would share it with you, too....

Red Bull, Bull Riding and Cardboard Cuts

Behind the Scenes of the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference

By Anh Chu

“This conference wouldn't be possible without the help of so many,” begins Andrew Mah, Acting Executive Director of AMPA. “If you can stand where you are or wave...” Upon hearing these words, I stand from my perch by the LCD projector at the front of the room, and wave like a languid pageant-queen to the room of 150 people. That's odd, I think, no one else on my team is vying for recognition. Turns out I had interrupted Mah at the podium, mid-sentence. Dramatics aside, this was an unexpected move. You see, we folks behind the scenes rarely toot our own horns. And rarely do we do it so conspicuously. Alas, I've returned for an encore...

First, a plea. If you haven't been to a conference before, sign up for the next one. Every March, AMPA hosts the Alberta Magazines Conference. It's the largest professional development conference of its kind in Western Canada. It's such a big to-do that it's hard to believe AMPA has just two staffers. It's a celebration. It's inspiration. Staff will tell you it's like planning a wedding each year in addition to your regular job, only there is no proverbial bride and groom. Nor is there wedding cake or an epic dance-off, sadly....

To read the full article, visit

http://www.albertamagazines.com/conference/BehindScenesConferenceStory.php