New title aims to help boomers stay healthy Toronto, Ont., 30 April, 1999: The publishers of CARP News, the lifestyles book for the 50-plus set, have launched a new title for health-conscious baby boomers approaching the age of 50. According to publisher/editor David Tafler, LivingWell aims to help readers reduce the "odds of getting sick" by promoting healthy living. The new title debuted with the current April issue. The quarterly's preventative approach to avoiding illness includes articles on the likes of alternative medicine, dieting, exercise and pharmaceuticals. This editorial approach is quite different than that of CARP News, which focuses on helping readers who are already living with illnesses. Published by Kemur Publishing Company Ltd. in Toronto, LivingWell is polybagged with CARP News. Contact: 416-363-5562 Frequency: quarterly Circulation: 125,000 Cover price: free Subscription: $15.95 Colour ad: $8,800 |
cales back scope of magazine's name Toronto, Ont., 29 April, 1999: The Bob Izumi title Real Outdoors has been renamed Real Fishing to better reflect its emphasis on angling. The name change first appeared with the recent March/April issue. Also new is a column called "The Skinny," which provides quick-hit information on topics such as how to buy a fishing rod. According to editor Craig Ritchie, the magazine is adopting more of a how-to approach, while trying "to have a little more fun." Published by Burlington, Ont.'s Izumi Outdoors Inc., the bimonthly also now sports perfect binding. Contact: 905-632-8679 |
Magalogues earn National Mag Award nominations Toronto, Ont., 27 April, 1999: Magalogues appear to be gaining a degree of legitimacy as bona fide magazines, if the latest round of National Magazine Award nominations is any indication. Two-year-old President's Choice Magazine, which is published under contract by Zaxis Publishing Inc. for Loblaws, is up for five awards, four of which are in the visual categories. And with its nomination for best portrait photography, the Avon magalogue Confidante will have one chance to win during the 22nd Annual Awards Gala. Emceeing the ceremony, to be held June 4 at the Toronto Sheraton Centre, will be This Hour Has 22 Minutes co-host Mary Walsh. Dominating the 30 visual and written categories as usual, though, are the traditional consumer books Toronto Life, Saturday Night and L'actualité. This year, Toronto Life tops the nominees list with 29 mentions, up from last year's 21 nominations. Knocked out of first place is Saturday Night, which garnered just 25 chances to win--down considerably from last year's total of 37. Next on the list is L'actualité with 18 nominations, followed by Elm Street (14), Shift (13), Outdoor Canada (12), Report on Business Magazine (11), Canadian Geographic (8), Cottage Life (7) and enRoute and Maclean's with six each. Last year's Magazine of the Year, Vancouver, received only two nominations. What follows is the complete list of nominees for all writing and visual categories: WRITTEN CATEGORIES One of a Kind Articles Sponsored by WOLFSON BELL ASSOCIATES Michel Arseneault Dessine-moi une horreur L'actualité Jim Christy Sidewalk Stories The Georgia Straight Guy Crittenden Smoke and Errors Saturday Night Ross Crockford Looking for Mr. Big Outdoor Canada Lorna Crozier Comic Books, Dead Dogs, Cheerleading: One Poet's Beginnings In 2 Print Louise Gendron God à toutes les sauces L'actualité Patricia Pearson Death Becomes Her Saturday Night Humour Sponsored by IMASCO LIMITED Ian Brown Where Pigs Can Fly Outdoor Canada Greig Dymond Toller Cranston vs. Eddie Shack Toronto Life Matthew Hart Future Perfect Report on Business Magazine Mark Anthony Jarman Down Time Western Living Caitlin Kelly Yak Attack Elm Street Hal Niedzviecki Stupid Jobs are Good to Relax with THIS Magazine Mike Randolph A Case for the Car Outdoor Canada Business Sponsored by ERNST & YOUNG Stephen Brunt A funny thing happened on the way to retirement Report on Business Magazine Trevor Cole The Empire Builders Report on Business Magazine Trevor Cole Ivy-League Hustle Report on Business Magazine Charlotte Gray Just a Heartbeat Away Saturday Night David Hayes Fear Itself Toronto Life Jean Benôit Nadeau Les 10 entreprises les plus secrètes du Québec Revue Commerce David North Never Cry Wolf Canadian Business René Vézina La chute de la maison Marleau Lemire Revue Commerce Jennifer Wells Trading Places Report on Business Magazine Jennifer Wells Do I Frighten You? Report on Business Magazine Science, Technology Health & Medicine Nancy Baron The straits of Georgia The Georgia Straight Michael Clugston Power Struggle Canadian Geographic Terry Glavin A Fish Tale The Georgia Straight Anita Lahey Black Lagoons Saturday Night Andrew Nikiforuk Where seldom is heard an environmentalist's word Outdoor Canada Ann Silversides Shroud of Silence Elm Street Yanick Villedieu Portrait de famille L'actualité Yanick Villedieu SOS sperme L'actualité Mark Witten Missing Pieces Toronto Life David Young Phantom Fish Killer The New Brunswick Reader Politics Gil Courtemanche Algérie: le pays devenue fou L'actualité Jenefer Curtis Captain Crunch Saturday Night André Lachance Du mauvais côte de la Baie James L'actualité Gordon Laird Party Crasher Saturday Night John Lorinc The Making of the Megacity Toronto Life Mick Lowe The Power of One Elm Street Andrew Nikiforuk Where Seldom is Heard an Environmentalist's Word Outdoor Canada Andrew Nikiforuk All Devine's Men Saturday Night Social Affairs Okey Chigbo Bum rap The Next City Louise Gendron Faut-il abolir le BS? L'actualité Don Gillmor Killing cousins Toronto Life Katherine Govier Lost girls Toronto Life Dean Jobb The Westray Conundrum OHS Canada Pierre Lacerte Rien ne va plus L'actualité Mary O'Connell The story of Joe Toronto Life Jay Teitel True colours Toronto Life Michael Valdy Science Friction Elm Street Michael Vlessides License to whale Canadian Geographic Investigative Reporting Don Gillmor Fire Alarm Toronto Life Don Gillmor Killing cousins Toronto Life Paul Kayla Death of self-made man Canadian Business André Lachance Du mauvais côté de la Baie James L'actualité Jean Benôit Nadeau Les 10 entreprises les plus secrètes du Québec Revue Commerce Jane O'Hara Rape in the Military Maclean's Daniel Sanger, Julien Feldman Life Beyond Harrods Saturday Night Sid Tafler Who Was Reena Virk? Saturday Night Fiction Shauna Shingh Baldwin Satya Saturday Night Lynn Coady ice cream man THIS Magazine Elyse Gasco Mother: Not a true story Prairie Fire Don Gillmor Gubermann Toronto Life Mark Anthony Jarman Backhoe Prism International Alice Munro Jakarta Saturday Night Robert Sherrin Cook Kenny-son The Malahat Review Poetry Clea Ainsworth Squaw Poems Prism International Julie Bruck Drive Carousel Don McKay Five Poems Event Don McKay Four Poems The Malahat Review Sue Sinclair Orange and Red Streak The Fiddlehead Rhea Tregebor Four Poems The Malahat Review Patricia Young Ruin and Beauty The Malahat Review David Zieroth The true imagined life of my neighbour Grain Arts & Entertainment Luc Chartrand Kevin, rocker malgré lui L'actualité André Ducharme Le Monde à ses pieds enRoute Brian D. Johnson Hungarian Rhapsody Maclean's Brian D. Johnson Cirque du Success Maclean's Moira Johnston The Raven's Last Journey Saturday Night Anne Kingston Lolita Writes Back Saturday Night John Lownsbrough The ladies who lunge Toronto Life Sandra Martin Mr. Muscle Toronto Life Hal Niedzviecki Pop, Product, Person Adbusters Katrina Onstad The Vellekoop Show Toronto Life Sports & Recreation Ian Brown Thirteen Ways of Learning at a Rapid Outdoor Canada Ian Brown Where Pigs Can Fly Outdoor Canada Pierre de Billy La passion de l'aventure Châtelaine Louise Gendron Les aventuriers de l'île perdue L'actualité Shane Peacock Rulers of the Dohyo Equinox Martine Turenne La bombe Mélanie L'actualité Columns James Chatto Feed the rich, Lemongrass roots, Tales from the critic Toronto Life Catherine Elie Crime et châtiment, Bobbi et ses sept bébés, Le raisin qui fait dé border le vase Châtelaine Peter Foster Memories of better days, It could be a long engagement, Return of the Phantom Toronto Life Gilles Marcotte Amérique, l'angoisse du vide, Les parcours de trois plumes, Vies de femmes, vies d'écriture L'actualité Jean Paré Dossier 25506, Chirurgie à la tronconneuse, 50%Ö C'est trop peu. Et c'est trop! L'actualité Lawrence Solomon Communism's Continuing successes, Homeless in paradise, The end of corruption The Next City Travel Carole Beaulieu Au pays des superbranchés L'actualité Karen Connelly Child of Maw Ker Outpost Deanne Musolf Crouch Swimming with Man-Eaters The Georgia Straight Pierre de Billy Un dîner en Provence Châtelaine Laurent Fontaine Andes, Les femmes oubliées Même L'actualité Janice Kulyk Keefer Speaking with Sojia Border Crossings Mark Kingwell Come on Get Happy Saturday Night Service Sponsored by PERIODICAL MARKETERS OF CANADA James Chatto, Margaret Swaine The Food and Wine Guide Toronto Life Marcia Chen The Real Estate Guide Toronto Life Catherine Collins Everything under the sun Cottage Life Ann Dowsett Johnston Universities '98 Maclean's Janet Forman, Karen Burshtein, Michael McCullough, Madelaine Drohan A Spy Checks In Report on Business Magazine Diane Forrest Battling Big Ears Cottage Life Ariane Krol C'est Le temps de Changer Châtelaine Jamie Maw Restaurant Awards Vancouver Magazine Marie Quinty DIX conseils pour décrocher LE JOB! Affairs PLUS Clive Thompson 100 Best Websites Shift How-To Allan Britnell A Drop of Golden Sun Canadian Home Workshop Tom Carpenter Enter the Dragon Cottage Life Victgoria Curran Handle with care Canadian Living Cynthia David Oceans of Plenty President's Choice Magazine Patrick Lima Magnolias Gardening Life Steven Maxwell A Craftsman's Toolchest Canadian Home Workshop Jake McDonald Jake and the Snakes Meet Superfly Cottage Life Mike Randolph First the Bad News: You Have to Sleep with a Pee Bottle Outdoor Canada John Sillaots The ultimate shop Canadian Home Workshop Gary Walchuk Thoroughbred Sawhorse Canadian Home Workshop Essays Daniel Coleman The Babies in the Colonial Washtub The New Quarterly Robert Fulford The Lawn Azure Rory Leishman Robed Dictators The Next City Hal Niedzviecki Stupid Jobs are Good to Relax With THIS Magazine M. Nourbese Philip Black w/Holes: A History of Brief Time FUSE Jay Tietel Their Glorious Future Saturday Night Jay Tietel The road not taken Toronto Life Jay Tietel True Colours Toronto Life Kevin Van Tighem The Once and Future Wild Outdoor Canada Jennifer Wells Waiting for the Big One Report on Business Magazine Personal Journalism Sponsored by CANADA POST Ian Brown Thirteen ways of learning at a rapid Outdoor Canada Bonnie Buxton Society's Child Elm Street Leigh Cummings No Way Out Toronto Life Andrea Curtis Excuse me while I screef the duff Toronto Life Moira Johnston The Raven's last journey Saturday Night Pat Krause Acts of Love Event Jake Richler Nick's Place Saturday Night Profiles Sponsored by ST. JOSEPH PRINTING Ian Brown The Defence of Gillian Guess Saturday Night Luc Chartrand Kevin, rocker malgrÉ lui L'actualité Sylvia Fraser Leader of the opposition Toronto Life Sarah Hampson Landmarks Elm Street Sarah Hampson Foth, He Went a Courtin' Saturday Night Gerald Hannon Secrets and Lies Canadian Art Micheline Lachance Bureau-Durivage: la guerre en direct L'actualité Danielle Laurin Le dÉsarroi de Marie Cardinal Châtelaine Guy Lawson The Zen Master of Maple Leaf Toronto Life Gardens David Macfarlane The Provocative Linda McQuaig Elm Street Editorial Package Sponsored by INDAS LIMITED Ann Dowsett Johnston Measuring Excellence Maclean's Pierre Duhamel Commerce à 100 ans Revue Commerce Elizabeth Kelly An Unexpected Song Hamilton Magazine Chris Louden So Long Jerry TV Guide Ian McGugan School of Higher Earning Canadian Business Karen Mulhallen The Anatomy of Theatre Descant Rick Spence, and the Editorial staff Profit 100 Profit Mark Tunney A Toast to Alden Nowlan The New Brunswick Reader Martine Turenne, Monique Roy, Marié-José Desmrais La dictature de la beauté Châtelaine Bruce Wallace East Meets West Olympics Maclean's Words and Pictures Wanita Bates Travellers' First Communion Border Crossings Nancy Bonnell-Kangas, Sam Sisco The Big Stink OWL Magazine Sa Boothroyd, Suzanne McCormick There's Nothing to Doo Cottage Life Harvey Chan Legends in the Sky Cottage Life Drew Cunningham, Peter Sibbald, Dita De Boni All Work and Some Play Canadian Inflight Magazine Tim Davin, Kat Mototsune, Jim Steck How Do You Make Chickadee Chickadee Magazine? Eric Harris, Steven Fick, Elizabeth Shilts, Pauline Comeau, Mary Vincent, Rick Boychuk, Benoit Aquin, Dave Sidaway, Gills Delisle, Martin Paquette, Brandi Cramer, Jean Terroux, Bruno Schlumberger, Rod Macivor, Dave Chan, Petere Cooney, Robert Goldbraith, Gordon Beck, John Mahoney, Phil Norton, Ryan Remiovz Blackout/Storm Report Canadian Geographic Margaret Williamson, Elizabeth Shilts, Rick Boychuk, Steven Fick, Andrew Murray, Janice McLean, Richard Hartmier, B&C Alexander, John Dann, J.A. Kraulis, Brian Milne Rivers of Ice Canadian Geographic VISUAL CATEGORIES Fashion Sponsored by YVES SAINT LAURENT PARFUMS Denis Desro (art director), Raphael Mazzucco (photographer), Isabelle Long (stylist) Impact Elle Québec Brad MacIver (art director), Gabor Jurina (photographer) Days of Heaven Toronto Life Fashion Brad MacIver (art director), Chris Nicholls (photographer), Fernand Desende (designer) Confidence Game Toronto Life Fashion Lina McPhee (art director), Chris Nicholls (photographer) Reds Images Lina McPhee (art director), Chris Chapman (photographer), Pepper Palmer (stylist) Fantasy Island Images Lina McPhee (art director), Christoph Strube (photographer), Alexa Forsyth (stylist) Black Again Images Martha Weaver (art director), Chris Wahl (photographer) The Leisure Class Elm Street Illustration Sponsored by THE INTERPROVINCIAL GROUP Gary Clement The Bottom Line on Stress CAmagazine Jacques Cournoyer Le Peur du Sexe Châtelaine Amanda Duffy The Dress Maker Elm Street Murray Kimber A Case for the Car Outdoor Canada Joe Morse Classic Black enRoute Simon Ng As I Dropped Out One Bright Summer Morning Outdoor Canada Alain Pilon Knocking Off the Knockoffs The Financial Post Magazine Alain Pilon All Devine's Men Saturday Night Alain Pilon Come On Get Happy Saturday Night Alain Pilon The Last Radical Vancouver Magazine Magazine Covers Sponsored by TRANSCONTINENTAL PRINTING Tim Davin Ask Owl OWL Magazine Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Bran Man 3000 Shift David Heath Growing Pains Advisor's Edge Sandra Latini Megawife Toronto Life Sandra Latini Why Does This Man Hate Toronto Toronto Life Danielle Le Bel Beauty and the Beasts enRoute Barbara Solowan The Other Swing Revival Saturday Night Alice Unger Spring Fever Gardening Life Carol Young Arthritis: Joint Efforts For a Pain-Free Future Health Digest Spot Illustration Jamie Bennett Death Becomes Her Saturday Night Gary Clement Spectrum Report on Business Mike Constable The Personal Finance Guide Toronto Life Genevieve Coté Hoar Frost Saturday Night Tony Jenkins Public Relations Report on Business Barbara Klunder Guide to World Music Shift Jason Logan A Friend, Indeed Toronto Life Fashion Ross MacDonald Series of Columns Canadian Business Jason Schneider Surviving the Audit Canadian Lawyer Still-life Photography Susan Ashukian Small Fry Gusto! Douglas Bradshaw Shoal Food Elm Street Douglas Bradshaw Please, Please Me Elm Street Colin Faulkner Tuscan Harvest President's Choice Magazine Kevin Hewitt Melon Mania Food & Drink Christian Lacroix De Terre et de Metal Mariage Quebec Shun Sasabuchi Salad Days President's Choice Magazine Shun Sasabuchi Test Patterns Gardening Life Tim Saunders Party Tricks Elm Street George Whiteside Precious Metals President's Choice Magazine Environments Chris Chapman The Writing's on the Wallpaper Canadian House & Home Dan Lim Suburban Renewal Toronto Life Fashion Trisse Loxley Naturally Sophisticated Style at Home Kerry McPhedran Paradise on Pender Style at Home Paul Orenstein The Artful Addition Cottage Life George Whiteside Designing People: Objects of Desire Canadian House & Home Portrait Photography Nigel Dixon Fear Itself Toronto Life Tom Feiler Picture Perfect Shift Jean Francois Graton The 25 Most Important People in New Music Shift Andrew MacNaughton Queen Cole Confidante Keith Moulding Saturday Nights Saturday Night Greg Pacek Society's Child Elm Street Eden Robbins The Vellekoop Show Toronto Life Chris Wahl Blood on the Tracks Elm Street Chris Wahl Al Rosen, Accounting Sleuth Report on Business Photojournalism Sponsored by KODAK CANADA INC. Benoit Aquin Lethal Beauty Canadian Geographic Wanita Bates Travellers' First Communion Border Crossings William DeKay Double Take Canadian Geographic John Dunn Dunn's Crossing Canadian Geographic David McMillan The Zone Border Crossings Russell Monk Garbage Shift Bruce Obec, Thomas Kitchin, Victoria Hurst Goodbye Mortgage, Hello Wolves Beautiful British Columbia Art Direction for a Single Magazine Article Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Boogie Knight Shift Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Picture Perfect Shift Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Fear Shift Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Vincent D'Onofrio Shift Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Freaks Shift Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown The Bran Man Shift Danielle LeBel Muscovites Are Tough Cookies enRoute Danielle LeBel Wrestling the Muse enRoute Lina McPhee Reds Images Carol Moskot Precious Metals President's Choice Magazine Art Direction for an Entire Issue Sponsored by QUEBECOR INC. Heather Cooper Holiday 1998 Food & Drink Chris Dixon Autumn 1998 Adbusters Carmen Dunjko, Malcolm Brown Fight the Power, Etc. Shift Danielle Le Bel May 1998 enRoute Janice McLean Through the Lens Canadian Geographic Barbara Solowan The Director Canadian Art |
Editors Association hires first-ever manager Toronto, Ont., 23 April, 1999: Constance Dilley John has been named the first ever association manager of the Editors Association of Canada (EAC) and its French-language counterpart, Association canadienne des rédacteurs-réviseurs (ACR). Although she joined the association on March 29, an electronic news release announcing the appointment--which coincides with the EAC's 20th anniversary--was issued only yesterday. As association manager, John will oversee marketing and fundraising programs, as well as the production of the EAC's national publications. She'll also manage the association's Toronto office. Prior to joining the EAC, John served for seven years as the executive director of the International Centre of Films for Children and Young People (CIFEJ), and 15 years as editor-in-chief of Cinema Canada. Her resume also includes stints at TVOntario and the CBC. "I am thrilled to have Connie John as our association manager," the news release quotes EAC president Nancy Flight as saying. "Connie brings a great deal of experience, expertise, and energy to this position, and she will be crucial in helping us achieve our goals for the next few years." |
Title on mutual funds launches Quebec edition Toronto, Ont., 22 April, 1999: Toronto-based publishers Richard Webb and Levi Folk are set to launch a French edition of their magazine, Mutual Fund Review. The move, slated for next month, is in response to advertisers seeking a broader audience. According to Webb, La Revue des Fondes Mutuels will cover the same editorial themes as its English-language counterpart, but with original French content. "The Quebec market doesn't want translated English content," Webb says, pointing to his research. "They want original French writing." Published by Financial Player Inc., the quarterly will be distributed to financial planners, brokers and advisors. It will also have a newsstand presence, says Webb Contact: 416-977-7337 Cover price: $3.95 Frequency: quarterly Subscription: $16 Circulation: 30,000 Colour ad: $5,000 |
Toronto Life, Shift see changes to mastheads Toronto, Ont., 21 April, 1999: Toronto Life associate editor Maryam Sanati has left the glossy city book to join Shift magazine, where she replaces former senior editor Nadine Kriston Csathy. Replacing Sanati at Toronto Life, meanwhile, is former Canadian Art senior editor Gary Salewicz., who has served as part-time photo editor for the Key Publishers title since May 1996. Also new to the Toronto Life team is Sheilagh McEvenue, who served as a researcher at Saturday Night for 16 years. Her new position as chief of research effectively splits up the job of chief of copyediting and research. That positon was held by Cynthia Brouse, who stays on as chief of copyediting. Back at Shift, Sanati joins another Toronto Life alumnus, former associate consumer marketing manager Wayne Leek , who is now Shift's consumer marketing director. Kriston Csathy, meanwhile, is now at the magalogue Noise (see yesterday's Daily News posting). Contact: 416-364-3333 (Toronto Life); 416-977-7982 (Shift) |
J.C. Penney title lures several Canadian staffers Toronto, Ont., 20 April, 1999: Although it will be targeting an American audience, the nascent J.C. Penney magalogue Noise has lured several local magazine types to its masthead since setting up shop here earlier this year. Expected to debut at the end of July, the new title is being publishing by Toronto's WSP Marketing in partnership with U.K.-based Redwood Publishing. Among the magalogue's Canadian staffers are: editor Nadine Kriston Csathy, who originally left her senior editor's position at Shift to pursue freelance television work in February. She's also producing the Life channel'sShift TV pilot. associate fashion editor Alexa Forsyth, the former fashion editor at Images; chief of copyediting and research Sheila Heti, who served as associate editor at Shift until last September (she's still listed on the masthead as a contributing editor); production manager Trish Kaliciak, who left her job as Shift's production manager two years ago; fashion editor Dick Snyder, who is on a leave of absence from The Globe and Mail's Fashion and Design section; features editor Abi Slone, a music columnist with Xtra!; and editorial assistants Tamara Stieber (previously a researcher at WTN) and recent Ryerson grad Charmaine Noronha. Finally, two WSP execs will also be on the masthead: Eric Schneider as co-publisher and Mark Stein as director of strategic development. The second co-publisher is from Britain, as are the editor-in-chief and the art director. Contact: 416-360-7339 |
Independent shop owner spearheads mag promo Toronto, Ont., 19 April, 1999: The Canadian Magazine Publishers Association and Toronto shop owner Maytham Ibrahim have teamed up to launch what they hope evolves into a monthly newsstand promotion. The first-ever Canadian Magazines Week begins next Sunday at Presse International, Ibrahim's 1,200-square-foot store at 537 Bloor Street West. The week-long event is intended to show consumers "how good Canadian magazines are," says Ibrahim, who opened his shop four years ago. "What I'm trying to do now is give all display for one week to Canadian magazines," he says, noting that monthly sales of U.S. titles typically reach $60,000, while homegrown magazines net just $2-3,000. "I felt we should give some support to our Canadian publishers." Essentially, Canadian periodicals will take over the shop's most prominent display positions for the entire week, as will attendant promotional materials. According to Ibrahim, he will conduct the monthly one-week promotion for five months before deciding whether to continue. He hopes other shops will also take up the idea. Although he confides that one of his main suppliers, Metro News, is not in favour of the idea (they say he'll lose sales), Ibrahim says he has no intention of dropping the idea before giving it a chance. Says Ibrahim: "I know it will work." The promotion is open to all CMPA members and other interested publishers. Contact: 416-531-1187 (Presse International); or 416-504-0348/0274 (CMPA sales rep Marcus Chonksy) |
PMB '99 reveals general decline in readership Toronto, Ont., 15 April, 1999: Further evidence that Canadians are being bombarded with more media choices--including more magazines--than ever before can be found in the Print Measurement Bureau's annual report, PMB '99. Unfortunately for the majority of magazines included in the reader survey, the evidence in question is a decline in readership figures over last year's findings. Released late last month, the report shows that of the 45 English-language magazines with comparable two-year data, 35 recorded drops in readership. According to Masthead's calculations, that translates into an overall drop of 5%, as opposed to last year's 2% increase. Hit particularly hard were mass market books such as Telemedia's Canadian Living and TV Guide, down 12.1% and 11.7% respectively. (Interestingly, Telemedia's Style at Home was up 7.5%.) The 30 French titles measured by PMB, meanwhile, saw growth in just 11 publications, resulting in an across-the-board decline of 1.8%. In contrast, last year saw gross readership jump by 2%. As in the English category, specific vertical magazines tended to fare well. The readership of Fleurs, Plantes et Jardins, for example, climbed 32.5%. For publishers, such declines do not necessarily mean it's time to start popping cyanide capsules. For one, the readership figures are based on a survey of more than 24,000 Canadians aged 12-plus, meaning some titles may still be performing well against their particular target audiences. And as PMB president Steve Ferley points out, the statistics should not be viewed in a vacuum. "Two years does not a trend make," he says, stressing that the figures should be "looked at with a degree of balance" over the long-term. The all-important readers per copy (RPC) figures, for example, are the same now as they were in 1993: 2.2 for English magazines and 2.9 for French titles (last year the numbers were 2.3 and 2.9 respectively). Ferley also observes that the number of periodicals included in the annual study has remained relatively static compared to the increasing number of magazines available to consumers. "PMB is measuring a constant portion of a growing market," he says. This would suggest that the drop in gross readership could be attributed to this "fragmentation" within the medium, not to mention expansion in other media. This year's report shows that the Internet, for example, is enjoying an increasingly larger audience: according to PMB '99, almost 24% of Canadians regularly logged on, as opposed to just under 8% in the 1997 study. Contact: 1-800-PMB-0899 |
Government, industry consider CanCon quotas Ottawa, Ont., 14 April, 1999: Although Heritage Minister Sheila Copps yesterday assured the Senate's transportation and communications committee that her government remains solidly behind Bill C-55, the possibility remains that an alternative measure could still come to the fore. Indeed, while the legislative process carries on, delegates from both Canadian Heritage and International Trade have been meeting with American trade officials to discuss possible U.S. alternatives to the Bill. This "two-track system" of moving forward with the legislation while remaining open to U.S. input, notes Heritage spokesperson Jacques Lefebvre, is designed to avert a possible trade showdown. If U.S. publishers want access to the Canadian advertising market, however, any alternative to Bill C-55 must ensure that split-runs carry majority Canadian content, says Lefebvre. "The objective of this is all about content. We have our way to obtain that: the Canadian option, C-55," he says, noting that the ongoing meetings with U.S. officials are merely discussions, not negotiations. "If the Americans have a better option, we're waiting for that. But up to now, they haven't put anything on the table." For their part, industry representatives say any change that gives split-runs access to local ad dollars must ensure that Canadian publishers themselves can continue to produce magazines. "If it's fair competition, presumably we'll be able to hold our own," says Maclean Hunter executive vice-president Terry Malden, a member of the industry-wide coalition lobbying Ottawa to maintain its magazine policy. If content quotas are adopted, therefore, they must be high enough to ensure a "level playing field," he says, noting that with sufficient quotas, foreign publishers would presumably be unable to undercut domestic ad rates if they must also pay for the creation of original Canadian content. Such a threshold, Malden says, would have to be between 60-70% Canadian content--as long as the current restriction on deducting advertising expenses remains in place. However, if advertisers were allowed to deduct the cost of advertising in split-runs, the quota would need to be as high as 80-100%, he explains. While saying he could live with such thresholds, coalition chair François de Gaspé Beaubien warns that the whole concept of quotas remains fraught with pitfalls. Questions remain, for example, as to how to define and quantify Canadian content, not to mention how to police the quotas, says the president of Telemedia's Publishing Divisions. Observes de Gaspé Beaubien: "It's not as clean and elegant as C-55." |
Multi-Vision hires Shelagh Tarleton on contract Toronto, Ont., 13 April, 1999: Former Toronto Life Fashion publisher Shelagh Tarleton has resurfaced at Multi-Vision Publishing Inc., president and CEO Greg MacNeil has confirmed. Tarleton, who left Toronto Life Fashion last October after almost six years as publisher, joined Multi-Vision earlier this month on a short-term contract. According to MacNeil, Tarleton will be "helping out" with Montreal-based Chic magazine, which Multi-Vision is now co-publishing with owner Southam Inc. The position may evolve into something more permanent, says MacNeil. Also now working on Chic as of this month is new Multi-Vision sales rep Christine Notte, formerly with the Maclean Hunter trade magazine Cosmetics. Meanwhile, Multi-Vision has yet to find a replacement for Terri DeRose, the Toronto publisher's vice-president, circulation. DeRose leaves later this month for Camar (see yesterday's Daily News posting). Nor has Multi-Vision found a replacement for Images fashion editor Alexa Forsyth, who left two weeks ago. Forsyth is now associate fashion editor at Toronto-based Noise, the soon-to-be launched magalogue for J.C. Penney. Also yet to be replaced is Elm Street assistant editor and Owl Canadian Family senior editor Sarah Fulford, who takes up her new post as associate editor at Toronto Life on May 3. There she replaces Adam Sternbergh, now senior associate editor at Saturday Night. "One of the problems when you have the best people in the business is defending against attrition," MacNeil says of the recent Multi-Vision brain drain. "They're just terrific people." Contact: 416-595-9944 |
Cunningham to receive life award at Nationals Toronto, Ont., 10 May, 1999: Industry veteran Lynn Cunningham has been named this year's recipient of the coveted Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement. The honour will be presented June 4 during the National Magazine Awards presentation dinner at the Toronto Sheraton Centre. Cunningham, who has served in a variety of editorial capacities on numerous Canadian consumer books, currently teaches magazine skills at Ryerson Polytechnic University's School of Journalism. As assistant professor, she also oversees the production of the Ryerson Review of Journalism. Contact: 416-422-1385 (NMAF) |
Camar hires DeRose back from Multi-Vision Markham, Ont., 12 April, 1999: Camar Publications Ltd. has lured back former staffer Terri DeRose from Toronto's Multi-Vision Publishing Inc., it was confirmed today. According to Camar group publisher and president Jacqueline Howe, DeRose takes up her new posting on April 21. She is currently Multi-Vision's vice-president, circulation. As Camar's new vice-president circulation, consumer marketing, DeRose will effectively replace Josie Vogel, who parted ways with the Markham, Ont.-based publisher in late February. DeRose last worked for Camar five years ago as circulation director. In other staff changes at Camar, former Publicor account manager Marni Standen was hired earlier this month as sales manager for Canadian Home Workshop. Also this month, Camar saw the departure of three staffers: Outdoor Canada circulation director Terry Gray has left following the rationalization of the title's circ department with Camar's other publications; Tobin Taylor, sales rep for the Snow Goer and Canadian Home Workshop consumer shows, has also left as a result of restructuring; and Canadian Gardening account manager Susan Towle has crossed over to competitor Gardening Life. A replacement has yet to be hired. Contact: 905-475-8440 |
Bowes launches new city book for Windsor, Ont. Windsor, Ont., 8 April, 1999: Bowes Publishers Limited has launched a new city book catering to middle- and upper-income neighbourhoods in Windsor, Ont. Pulse magazine debuted early last month. The new glossy is distributed free along with the Windsor Pennysaver, a weekly giveaway also put out by London, Ont.-based Bowes. The new bimonthly features stories about city residents, as well as regular departments on recipes, local heritage, homes, fashion, education, health and investment. Local event and entertainment listings are also included. Contact: 519-966-4500 Cover price: $2.95 Frequency: 6/year Subscriptions: n/a Circulation: 30,000 Colour ad: $2,585 |
Plesman spins off supplement as separate title Toronto, Ont., 7 April, 1999: Plesman Publications has relaunched a five-year-old supplement to Computing Canada as a new standalone magazine. The debut issue of Communications & Networking appeared last month. "It reached the point where as a supplement it wasn't delivering all of the audience that some of the ad base was looking for," says publisher George Soltys, noting that the title was also reaching readers who were not necessarily interested in the subject matter. Although the supplement originally focused on the networking industry, over the past two years it began to include editorial on telecommunications, says Soltys. The new magazine now covers both industries in equal measure, with articles on new technologies, regulations, products and companies. Contact: 416-497-9562 Cover price: n/a Frequency: monthly Subscription: $75 Circulation: 18,000 One-time, full-page, colour ad: $6,046 |
New title bets on tapping into gaming industry Concord, Ont., 6 April, 1999: Editor/publisher Peter Szecsodi jokes that he started up The Gambler Magazine because he couldn't afford to buy his own casino. His real motivation, though, is to tap into what he calls "one of the fastest growing segments of the North American economy"--the gaming industry. Launched March 1, the Concord, Ont.-based monthly targets both consumers and industry executives with articles on the likes of casino openings, gaming strategies and related human interest stories (the current May issue, for example, features a profile on industrialist and horse-racing enthusiast Frank Stronach). And along with the glossy's coverage of "responsible gaming," it also serves up non-related editorial on fashion, entertainment and travel. While the debut issue had a print run of just 10,000, distribution is set to jump to 100,000 in May, with 40,000 copies delivered to Toronto's most affluent neighbourhoods, says Szecsodi. Also in May, Disticor is slated to initiate newsstand distribution, with the remaining copies sent to racetracks and casinos throughout North America. Contact: 905-738-3166 Cover price: $3.95 Frequency: monthly Subscription: $24 Circulation: 100,000 Full-page, one-time, four-colour ad: $7,000 |
Editor, consultants purchase astronomy title Toronto, Ont., 5 April, 1999: The National Museum of Science and Technology has sold SkyNews magazine to founding editor Terence Dickinson and the magazine consultancy firm C.M. Group. The sale, which was finalized two weeks ago, did not include the title's French-language counterpart, Ciel Info. Both C.M. Group and Dickinson have been involved with the glossy bimonthly since it was launched in the summer of 1995 to promote amateur astronomy in Canada. According to C.M. Group managing director Greg Keilty, the National Museum of Science and Technology decided to sell the magazine because it no longer wanted to be in the publishing business. The Ottawa institution will continue, however, to appear on the masthead as the title's founding publisher. Also remaining on the masthead along with C.M. Group and editor Terence Dickinson will be art director Michael Webb and production manager Susan Dickinson. Wendy McPeake, who represented the Museum as publisher, will also continue with the magazine, but in a new capacity. Subtitled "The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing," SkyNews won the National Magazine Award Foundation's "Best New Magazine" honour in 1996. Keilty says the new publishers have no immediate plans for changes to the four-year-old title. Contact: 905473-2304. |
Alternative title aims for financial self-sufficiency Halifax, N.S., 1 April, 1999: Sustainable Times is about to find out if it's, well, financially sustainable. With its March issue, the alternative quarterly relinquished its status as a freebie newsprint tab by adopting a magazine format and a $2.95 cover price. It also reduced its print run from 20,000 to 5,000 copies. "With the relaunch, I'm trying to make the magazine a little less earnest and a bit more fun," says publisher/editor Sean Kelly, noting that the title also underwent a complete redesign. Along with more graphics and typography, the magazine also now features more human interest stories, says Kelly. Published by the international development organization CUSO, Sustainable Times presents solutions for problems related to the environment, development and the economy. Contact: 902-423-6709 |
![]() |
|
Jaded says: | |
Wow, Torstar really seems to be on a mission to bankrupt one magazine after another.... |
![]() |
|
Lorene Shyba says: | |
Full of terrific information, Thanks!... |