Below you’ll find brief recaps of stories related to the Canadian magazine industry, with links for further reading/viewing.

Best Health launches YouTube contest

Best Health, the new women’s magazine from Reader’s Digest, is running an online video contest to promote its upcoming launch. Women are asked to submit their best health tips through YouTube videos. From the Media In Canada story: “The contest ends April 18. Prizes include $1,000 for first place, a Sony DVD handycam camcorder for second place, a $250 spa gift certificate for third place and spa baskets for the top five honorable mentions.”

• Promotional video [YouTube]
• Best Health launching UGC effort [Media in Canada]
• Contest page [Best Health website]

Adbusters can’t run ads on CBC and CanWest Global, court rules

The CBC and Canwest Global have the right to refuse advertising from Adbusters magazine, a court has ruled. The Vancouver-based magazine challenged the networks after ads from the anti-consumerist title were rejected. From the press release:“Adbusters claimed the CBC and Canwest Global had violated its right to free speech under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by refusing to sell air time, but the court decided that the Charter does not apply to private corporations.”

• Adbusters press release [Adbusters]

Major staff changes at The Walrus

Canadian Magazines reports that two senior editors, Nora Underwood and Marni Jackson, have taken leave from The Walrus. Managing editor Jeremy Keehn has moved into a full-time senior editor role, while Jared Bland, who just graduated from the magazine’s internship program, takes the managing editor position. Sylvia Barrett, a former senior editor at Canadian Geographic, comes on as senior editor.

• Major staff reorganization continues at The Walrus [Canadian Magazines]
• Both senior editors at The Walrus take leave [Canadian Magazines]

Magazines Canada launches video podcasts to promote mags

The folks at Magazine Canada are always working hard to convince marketers that magazines are a worthwhile medium. Their latest effort comes in the form of a video podcast series, called magblast. In the first video, Michele Beaulieu, senior vice president and group media director of Starcom Worldwide, talks about reader engagement and permission marketing.

• magblast [Magazines Canada]

Photos from the CMC pool party

Score Golf’s Tuppy Blair was kind enough to post photos from the CMC’s annual pool party on her Facebook page. You don’t have to be a Facebook member to take a peak.

• CMC Social photos [Tuppy Blair]