Masthead News Archives
October 1999
Toronto Life names custom publishing chief
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 29, 1999: Staffing for Toronto Life's ancillary pursuits has been bolstered with several recent hires and appointments. The changes were announced yesterday via press release.Leading the promotions is national account manager and director of research Brian Stendel, who has been named director of Toronto Life Publishing Services. In his new role, Stendel will spearhead the city book's new custom publishing venture. Also taking on a new position is former project manager Sandy Molnar, who is now national sponsorship manager. Joining Molnar in Toronto Life's Ventures department is Morna Cassidy, newly hired as project coordinator. Together, Molnar and Cassidy will be responsible for the likes of The Toronto Life Golf Series, The Toronto Life Ski Series and The Santé Bloor-Yorkville Wine Festival, along with the magazine's Web site. In the advertising department, meanwhile, Lorenzo Sechi has been brought on board as senior production coordinator, as has Peter Brierly as advertising designer.
Contact: 416-364-3333, ext. 353
Key's Fashion to publish eight times a year
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 28, 1999: Toronto Life Fashion is boosting its frequency from six to eight issues in 2000 through the addition of seasonal editions for summer and winter. According to publisher Giorgina Bigioni, the rationale for the change is "to build a greater relationship with our readers and a stronger brand." Bigioni estimates that the increased frequency will boost the 22-year-old glossy's "accumulated reach" by 21%. The change follows the September launch of Fashion's Vancouver edition and the debut of the perfect-bound book's larger trim size (see "Vancouver-bound," April). Fashion is published by Toronto-based Key Publishers Limited.
Contact: 416-364-3334
The Globe drops Gusto! from its menu
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 27, 1999: The Globe and Mail has officially scrapped plans to resume publishing Gusto!, the daily newspaper's standalone glossy on food and entertaining. While he would not divulge details of the closure, vice-president and general manager Grant Crosbie confirmed that a "decision was made that it was not a viable business to move forward with." Gusto! had been suspended for the summer, pending the results of negotiations with two other parties interested in co-publishing it. At that time it was thought the quarterly would resume publishing this fall (see "Cash hungry," October). According to Crosbie, Gusto! could still reappear in another incarnation, possibly as a supplement to The Globe.
Contact: 416-585-5600
The Medical Post gets a Nutrition supplement
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 26, 1999: Rogers Media has pulled the plug on The Nutrition Factor, folding the five-year-old medical title into sister book The Medical Post. As of this month, The Nutrition Factor's editorial content will begin appearing as a regular feature within the pages of its 34-year-old sibling. According to John Milne, senior vice-president of Rogers' Healthcare and Financial Publishing , reader interest in The Nutrition Factor was high, but advertiser support was not.
Contact: 416-596-5726
Automotive trade makes drive for Quebeckers
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 25, 1999: Helpard Publishing Inc. is doubling the frequency of its auto industry trade magazine early next year, along with launching a French-language spin-off. Canadian Auto World, which counts auto industry executives among its readers, will begin publishing twice monthly in January 2000. "We now feel this auto industry trade magazine has matured to the point where it can and should be published twice a month," states Helpard Publishing chairman Lynn Helpard in an Oct. 22 press release. Also slated for January is the launch of L'actualité Automobile, which will target Quebec's auto executives. On board as editor of the start-up is automotive journalist Éric LeFrançois, who will work out of Helpard's Montreal offices. The new title will have a controlled circ of 2,500.As for Canadian Auto World, which boasts a circulation of 35,000, former associate editor Michael Goetz has been promoted to editor in tandem with the change in frequency. Toronto-based Helpard's Automotive Division also includes World of Wheels and its French-language counterpart, Le Monde de l'Auto, among other titles.
Contact: 416-438-7777
Catholic teachers' association closes book
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 22, 1999: While students were returning to school in September, the magazine of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association was suspended for the second year in a row. "Budget cutbacks, the consequences of the lockouts and strikes last year just took a huge amount of money out of our operating budgets," says editor Aleda O'Connor in explaining the apparent demise of The Reporter. While O'Connor could not confirm if the magazine will ever be relaunched, she did say a newsletter called Agenda has been filling part of the void the magazine left, as is a related Web site. The Reporter was a standard-sized glossy published 10 times a year with a circulation of 37,000.
Contact: 416-925-2493
CTC rounds out its dream team with Bullock
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 21, 1999: Toronto Life's director of consumer marketing, Scott Bullock, has confirmed that he'll be joining Coast to Coast Distributing Company (CTC) as of January 2000. Bullock's appointment as vice-president of publisher service and retail sales marks the latest move by CTC to position itself as Canada's leading newsstand distributor. "I'll be bringing a new perspective," says Bullock, noting that he'll be the only CTC executive with experience as a magazine circulator. "There's never been anyone there that's walked the walk." Although his exact role at CTC has not yet been clearly defined, Bullock says a key aspect will be consulting with publishers on how to improve newsstand sales, along with working with circulation directors to better meet their needs. Bullock has been with Toronto Life for 11 years, having started out as circulation manager. His portfolio currently encompasses Canadian Art, Fashion and Canadian Gardens, as well as Toronto Life. Before joining Toronto Life, he worked for D Magazine, a city book for Dallas, Tex. An announcement on his replacement is expected by month's end. At CTC, Bullock will join several other recent appointees:
• former Disticor vice-president of marketing Frank Auddino, who was named vice-president in October;
• Disticor co-founder Glenn Morgan, who came on board in late July as general manager and now holds the additional title of president; and
• former Disticor West coast rep John Booth
While CTC is the distribution arm of Rogers Media Inc., it is currently seeking to expand the roster of titles it handles for other publishing houses.
Contact: 416-596-5509
Feds poised to unveil magazine subsidies
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 20, 1999: A proposed package of subsidies designed to bolster the Canadian magazine industry is now before the federal cabinet, Masthead Online has learned. And if cabinet approves the initiative, details will likely be made public within the next two weeks, says Allan Clarke, director of Publishing Policy and Programs at Canadian Heritage. In fact, Clarke is already scouting for a suitable Toronto venue--preferably a mid-sized publishing house--to hold the press conference. While the precise nature of the "broad-based assistance program" remains sketchy due to federal secrecy laws, Clarke allows that the plan does call for "significant and new" federal funding. The program as recommended to cabinet by Heritage officials offers a "broad framework"--and price tag--for bolstering the magazine industry now that foreign publishers can tap into the domestic advertising market, he says. According to Clarke, the program is designed such that it leaves "room to deal with specific issues" pertaining to different sizes and genres of magazines.
"It will have flexibility to do different things for different magazines," he says.
Contact: 1-819-997-4099
Kenilworth buys, relaunches hospitality trade
Richmond Hill, Ont., Oct. 19, 1999: Contract publisher Kenilworth Publishing Inc. has renamed, redesigned and relaunched Inn Business magazine after purchasing the hospitality trade from Perf-Link Publishing Inc. Under Kenilworth, the bimonthly reappeared last week as Lodging Canada, with Canada-wide distribution to 12,000 owners, managers and operators of hotels, inns, B&Bs, convention centres, casinos, motels and resorts. "With rapid growth predicted in the lodging and hospitality industries, hoteliers and innkeepers are striving to keep up with the latest technologies and innovations," a press release quotes publisher Ellen Kral as saying. "Lodging Canada will strive to give readers the information they need to help them meet the challenges of this dynamic industry." Founded in 1989, Richmond Hill, Ont.-based Kenilworth also publishes Signs Canada, Construction Canada and GreenMaster, among others.
Contract: 905-771-7333, ext. 14
Air Canada title lands most awards at Ozzies
New York, N.Y., Oct. 18, 1999: Chatelaine took home silver for best redesign while enRoute earned three gold and one silver at last Thursday's Ozzie Awards for Magazine Design Excellence. Two other Canadian magazines--Owl and Canadian Geographic--each received an honourable mention. Presented annually by Folio: magazine, this year's honours were dispensed during a special gala at the Folio:Show magazine conference and exposition in New York City. Canadian Geographic, Chatelaine, enRoute and Owl were the only Canadian titles that earned nominations this year. Montreal-based enRoute, which went into the ceremony with four nominations, won gold in the following categories:
• Best cover/consumer title above 250,000 circulation (September 1998);
• Best feature design/consumer title between 100,000 and 250,000 circulation (October 1998); and
• Best use of photography/consumer above 100,000 circulation (February 1999).
The inflight title's sole silver was awarded for best use of digital imagery in the consumer magazine category (April 1998 issue). Last year, enRoute took home two gold awards for best cover and best feature design. It was also a finalist for best redesign. Chatelaine, which unveiled a complete graphic makeover with its March 1999 issue, took silver for best redesign in the category for consumer magazines with circulations more than 100,000. Canadian Geographic's annual collection of photography--Through the Lens (1999 edition)--earned honourable mention for best cover in the same circulation category as enRoute. Finally, Owl's honourable mention was for best cover in the category for consumer magazines with circulations less than 100,000.
Contact: 1-800-927-5007
Camar changes corporate name to Avid Media
Markham, Ont., Oct. 15, 1999: Camar Publications Ltd., home of special interest titles such as Outdoor Canada, Canadian Home Workshop and Canadian Gardening, has adopted a new corporate moniker. As of this week, Camar is now known as Avid Media Inc. The new name, which was officially announced on Tuesday, will be introduced to clients and the media over the next several weeks. According to a news release, for the past five months Camar staff worked alongside Toronto-based Howe/Brand Communications Inc. to develop the new identity. "The name Avid reflects our passion for the business and for the future, and the passion our audience feels for our products," the release quotes president and publisher Jacqueline Howe as saying. "We are not a general interest company, we are an avid company."
Contact: 905-475-8440, ext. 128
Disticor unveils further staff restructuring
Ajax, Ont., Oct. 14, 1999: Disticor Magazine Distribution Services has announced another round of promotions and hirings, the Ajax firm's second such staff restructuring since May. Leading the appointments is director of client services Valerie Madill, who took on the additional portfolio of director of distribution just last May. She's now been promoted to vice-president, circulation. As for Susan Keaveney, who jumped from national sales manager to director of national sales in May, she is now director, sales and marketing. Also continuing to climb the corporate ladder following May's appointments is Diane Temple. Having already risen from distribution analyst to special projects coordinator, Temple has now been named special projects manager.
In other appointments:
• Claudia Turner has been promoted to controller, where she'll oversee the management of the office and financial operations;
• international sales manager Carolyn Owens is now director, client services;
• Art Prosser has been named western sales manager; and
• Nancy Watt has been hired as Disticor's new international sales manager to replace Owens.
Contact: 905-619-6565
Rogers exec steps down to start own business
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 13, 1999: Rogers Media vice-president Lee Simpson is leaving the Toronto-based magazine publishing house at month's end to set up her own consultancy service. Simpson, who is also group publisher of The Women's Group of titles at Rogers, officially steps down Oct. 31. Staff were notified of her decision yesterday and today via a faxed memo. It has yet to be decided whether she will retain her position as chair of Magazines Canada, or keep her seat on the board of the Canadian Magazine Publishers Association. "I am going out on my own," Simpson told Masthead Online this afternoon while en route to participate in a panel discussion at the Folio:Show in New York. "This is part of a long-held dream of mine." According to Simpson, her plan is to set up her own business as a motivational speaker and trainer, as well as work on a freelance basis for Totem Research (her first contract with Totem begins Jan. 7). "I think the desire to work on your own thing is natural to many people who have sheltered their entrepreneurial spirit in a corporate environment," she says of her decision to leave Rogers (previously Maclean Hunter) after more than 15 years. Simpson first joined Maclean Hunter as research director for the then Chatelaine Group, which encompassed Chatelaine, City and Country Home, and New Mother magazines. From there she worked her way up to publisher of Chatelaine and then group publisher for The Women's Group. When she was appointed Chatelaine publisher in 1988, Simpson became the first woman to hold the post in the magazine's 65-year history. And what were the highlights of her career at Maclean Hunter? "The opportunity to work with the incredible talent there, and in some small way to nurture talent, to spot someone early in their career and put them in a position to pursue their gift," says Simpson, pointing also to the creation in 1997 of The Women's Group as one of her major accomplishments. As for finding clients to feed her new business pursuits, she appears confident she'll have plenty of work coming her way. Says Simpson: "I think it's safe to say I have one of the biggest Rolodexes in this town."
Contact: 416-596-5000
Motorsport mag leaves pitstop with new look
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 12, 1999: Ten-year-old Performance Racing News--"North America's Motorsport Authority"--has undergone some maintenance. As of the October issue, the magazine for racing car aficionados now sports a smaller trim size (down to 9.5" x 12" from 13 3/4" x 10 3/8") along with full-colour, glossy pages throughout. According to general manager Noel Simpson, the reduced trim size made the complete switch to full-colour more feasible. The magazine had been printed on newsprint, but two years ago colour ink and glossy paper were slowly introduced, beginning with the cover, Simpson notes. As for the editorial content, racing coverage has been "streamlined" to make room for more profiles of teams and drivers, as well as for articles on other racing-related issues, says Simpson. The magazine's related Web site (www.prn.com) has also been revamped.
Contact: 416-922-7223
Vice-chair takes over OAC as Jackman resigns
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 8, 1999: Julia Foster, former chair of the Stratford Festival's board of governors, has stepped in as acting chair of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) following this week's resignation of Hal Jackman. Foster, who was appointed to the OAC this past June, had been the arts body's vice-chair. "She's very able. We're really lucky she's around," says OAC executive director Donna Scott. "I think very highly of Julia Foster." Along with her work at the Stratford Festival, Foster is co-founder of the Kawartha Arts Festival, a former president of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and a former board member of both the Toronto International Film Festival and the Shaw Festival. In addition to her current OAC duties, Foster also serves on the boards of the Bata Shoe Museum and the Hospital for Sick Children. Jackman, who tendered his resignation on Wednesday to Citizenship, Culture and Recreation Minister Helen Johns, had served just 20 months of his three-year term. "He's been thinking out loud about it for a while, and every time he did I tried my damnedest to talk him out of it," Scott says of Jackman's decision to step down. "He told the board he'd done what he could do and it was time to move along." According to Scott, Jackman informed board members of his decision at their most recent meeting on Sept. 30, but delayed making the news official until he could meet with Johns. "I think he brought the positive attention of the government to the arts council," Scott says of Jackman's major contributions to the OAC. "I think they admire him, respect him and listen to him." As for his seemingly abrupt departure, Scott says Jackman had "made it clear when came on that would not be staying indefinitely. He said that the council was in good hands with the vice-chair, the board and me." Under Jackman's leadership, the OAC introduced new funding guidelines for publications wanting to tap into the arts body's $400,000 budget for magazines. Now, only those titles devoting at least 90% of their editorial content to "contemporary literary, performing, or visual arts" are eligible for annual funding. In tandem with the change, the OAC also introduced a new, $60,000 fund for project grants, opening the door for general interest magazines to obtain funding. Publishers can now apply for project grants of up to $10,000 to develop arts-related specials, supplement writers' fees or maintain the regular publication of original works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction about the arts. Beyond his OAC responsibilities, Jackman has his hands in a number of pies, not the least of which are his duties as chairman and president of E-L Financial Corporation's board of directors. He's also chairman of several other boards, including those of The Empire Life Insurance Company and Algoma Central Corporation.
Contact: 1-800-387-0058, ext. 7438
CMA urges Ottawa to pass new privacy law
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 7, 1999: The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) has joined forces with a leading consumer advocacy group to urge Ottawa to pass Bill C-54, the proposed new privacy law. The Bill, which was first introduced early last October, reached third reading prior to the June start of the summer recess. With parliament now facing a heavy fall agenda, however, both the CMA and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) are worried the nascent legislation may die on the order paper. In a joint press release issued this morning, the two associations called on the Liberal government to "stand behind its commitment and adopt the proposed" Bill early in the fall session "This is a very important Bill that will establish a common set of Canadian rules for all commercial transactions involving personal information in all media, not just in e-commerce," the release quotes CMA president and CEO John Gustavson as saying. "We believe that this legislation is central to the continued growth of information-based marketing in Canada and to ensuring a healthy relationship between consumers and Canadian marketers based on confidence and trust," he continued. The CMA represents 750 corporations and 3,000 individual marketers across Canada, while the non-profit PIAC represents consumer and public interest groups for a combined membership of more than two million. Contact: 416-391-2362 (CMA); 613-562-4002 (PIAC)
EnRoute leads Canadian Ozzie nominations
New York City, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1999: Four Canadian consumer magazines are among the finalists in this year's prestigious Ozzie Awards for Magazine Design Excellence. Canadian Geographic, Chatelaine, enRoute and Owl Magazine are each up for at least one award. Presented annually by Folio: magazine, this year's awards will be presented during a special gala next Thursday at the Folio:Show magazine conference and exposition in New York City. Garnering the most nominations is Montreal-based enRoute, the inflight title for Air Canada:
• best cover (consumer 100,000-250,000 circulation);
• best feature design (consumer 100,000-250,000 circulation);
• best use of photography (consumer 100,000-plus circulation); and
• best use of digital imagery (consumer).
Last year, enRoute took home two gold awards for best cover and best feature design. It was also a finalist for best redesign. Chatelaine, which unveiled a complete graphic makeover with its March 1999 issue, is nominated for best redesign in the category for consumer magazines with circulations more than 100,000. Directly competing with enRoute for best cover, meanwhile, will be Canadian Geographic. Also with one nomination is Owl: best cover in the category for consumer magazines with circulations less than 100,000.
Contact: 1-800-927-5007
Trade title for resort owners packs it in
Elgin, Ont., Oct. 5, 1999: Owners and managers of resorts across Canada have lost a two-and-a-half-year-old trade magazine that aimed to help them run their businesses. Elgin, Ont.-based Campground & Cottage Resort Management stopped publishing in April. According to publisher James Barton, who also runs his own campground, the glossy, full-colour quarterly had advertising support, but reader response to ads had declined. Barton says there are plans "to go at it from another direction" by launching a buyer's catalogue sometime next year.
Contact: 888-219-5225
ROB Mag's new look earns international kudos
Toronto, Ont., Oct. 4, 1999: Report on Business Magazine, which underwent a complete redesign in April 1998, collected two graphic arts awards last month from the Society for News Design (SND). The Globe and Mail-spawned title received the SND's top honours for best magazine page design and best art and illustration. The prizes were presented during the Society's Sept. 10 conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Based in Providence, R.I., the SND has more than 2,600 members worldwide, including graphic artists, editors, publishers, art directors, illustrators, photographers, students, advertising artists and Web site designers. Along with the annual awards program, the Society's programs include workshops, mentoring, contests and an annual workshop and exhibition.
Contact: 401-276-2100
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