The Summer Reading issue of the Walrus (July/August 2013) is on newsstands now, but if that's not enough lit for you, nine previous years of summer issue fiction, memoirs and poetry are up online for free.

Lloydmedia's Direct Marketing magazine upgraded from newsprint to glossy and received a full redesign including a new logo. The monthly publication has been around for 25 years and says it reaches 17,000.

The Canadian Media Guild sent a letter last month to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, concerned about the Canada Periodical Fund providing assistance to TC Media (what with TC's controversial proposed contributor agreements and all). Heritage Minister James Moore responded and declined a request to meet, saying that funding is based entirely on subs and retail sales. The Story Board has his letter in full.

Blue Ant Media's digital Aux magazine is now available on Android. The interactive mag is celebrating its one-year anniversary and Samsung Canada is the occasion's exclusive sponsor. Immersive page insertions and a sponsored feature on emerging, independent and alternative artists will appear in eight issues up to January 2014.

D. B. Scott reports that award-winning Toronto weekly The Grid laid off four staff members: deputy editor Pat Lynch, writer David Topping, associate editor Matthew Halliday, and assistant online editor Rob Duffy. It's been a rough week.

Let's end on a feel-good note. Check out the video that kicked off this year's NMA Awards, sponsored by the OMDC. Turn up your speakers and enjoy the magazine glee.


Creative Direction - Xavier Massé; Animation - Matthew Hemming; Artwork Preparation - Joana Ferret; Music - Bustafunk; Remix & Foley - Joshua Hemming