CCNA/CNA Webinar - Register Now!

The CCNA/CNA will be hosting a webinar on Better Beat Reporting on September 21 from 12pm to 1pm EDT.  BCYCNA’s own Gord Hoekstra of the Prince George Citizen will host the webinar and discuss finding features while still producing copy for your regular beat.

You can find all the details here or go directly here to register.  $25 for CCNA/CNA Members (which includes BCYCNA members) and $50 for non-members.

Freedom of Information Update

Today, the Canadian Newspaper Association (CNA) released the interesting results of a recent Freedom of Information audit which includes Western Canada.  Click here to read the press release and see how BC fared in providing access to information.

BC & Yukon Community Papers Win Big at BNC

Last week, the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) held its annual Better Newspapers Competition.  Our BC and Yukon community newspapers did us proud!

Gold Winners:
John Van Putten from The Abbotsford News for Best Photo Essay
Alfie Lau from Burnaby Now for Best Historical Story
Eric Welsh from The Chilliwack Progress for Best Feature Series
Bonnie Krulicki from The Chilliwack Progress for Best Ad Design
Chilliwack Times for Best Headline Writing
Duncan Cowichan Valley Citizen for Best Agricultural Edition
Gulf Islands Driftwood for General Excellence
Melissa Lampman from Kamloops This Week for Excellence in Rural Reporting
Langley Advance for Best Holiday Edition
Langley Times for Best Special Section
North Island Gazette for General Excellence
Mike Wakefield from North Shore News for Best Spot News Photo Coverage
North Shore News for Outstanding Community Service
The Powell River Peak for Best Website
James Murray from Salmon Arm Observer for Best Spot News Photo Coverage
Michael Booth from The Surrey Now for Best Agricultural Story
Diane Strandberg from The Tri-City News for Best Feature Story
Richard Mostyn from Yukon News for Best Local Editorial
Wyatt Tremblay from Yukon News for Best Local Cartoon
Mike Thomas from Yukon News for Best Feature Photo
Yukon News for Best Sports Coverage
Yukon News for Best Website

Full list of BCYCNA member winners from the Better Newspapers Competition.

Full list of all winners from across Canada.

Web and Mobile Reporting Seminar with Robb Montgomery

Friday, April 9, 10am-4pm
River Rock Casino Resort, Thompson Room

On behalf of the Canadian Newspaper Association, the BCYCNA would like to invite our members to register for a Web and Mobile Reporting seminar conducted by Robb Montgomery. The event will take place at the River Rock Casino Resort on Friday, April 9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

BCYCNA members can take advantage of the member rate of only $75.00 – this price includes lunch and GST. Please register this week to avoid seminar cancellation (a minimum of 20 participants is required.)

Please register online at:
http://robbmontgomeryvancouver.eventbrite.com

Robb Montgomery, CEO Visual Editors and Seminar speaker

About the Seminar:
Robb Montgomery, CEO of Chicago-based Visual Editors, makes a rare appearance in western Canada to deliver his popular workshop. He has worked as an editor for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune and has redesigned newspapers including The Examiner for San Francisco, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. He currently consults with editors in the Middle East, Asia, U.K., Europe and North America to improve their online multimedia reporting and produces video journalism training events in North America and Europe.

Here is what you will learn:

• Manage your e-documents better and discover new tools to build online surveys and polls.
• Use RSS readers, link shorteners and filtering to save you time and improve your research.
• See how social bookmarking techniques can deepen the resources you collect and help find new sources.
• Create rich slide shows that include photo, video, audio, text and Web links.
• Quick tips on small camera use to create stronger visual sequences.

For more information:
Susan Brophy Down, Canadian Newspaper Association
sdown@cna-acj.ca
416-923-3567 ext. 231

BCYCNA members recognized at 2010 Better Newspapers Competition

Earlier this week the winners of the 2010 Better Newspapers Competition were announced. We couldn’t help but notice the several BCYCNA members who were selected as finalists and winners. At the BCYCNA office we wanted to congratulate our members for the hard work that helped them receive this recognition. Well done on each of your accomplishments!

The Better Newspapers Competition recognizes the best in editorial, photography, advertising, promotional and overall excellence in community newspaper publishing. This year, 255 newspapers submitted 2,551 entries encompassing 31 community newspaper categories. Eighty-one peer judges reviewed the submissions. Blue ribbons were also awarded by judges in the General Excellence classes to newspapers deserving honourable mention.

To view the complete list of winners and Blue Ribbon recipients, visit the Better Newspapers Competition website.

For more excitement within the world of community newspapers, keep reading our blog for more updates of the 2010 Ma Murray Awards set to take place on April 10 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.

74 per cent of adults read their community newspaper

On January 11, 2010 the Canadian Community Newspaper Database Corporation (ComBase) announced the results of its 2008-2009 study, with readership data for 218 markets across Canada.

Overall, community newspaper readership remains strong, with 74 per cent of Canadians reading their community newspaper. Readership is particularly strong among desirable target groups:

• 76 per cent of women
• 78 per cent of baby boomers
• 77 per cent of adults with children
• 74 per cent of university-educated adults
• 76 per cent of homeowners
• 78 per cent of affluent Canadians (i.e., household income >$75K)

According to the 2008-2009 study, adults 18 and over in Canada have read any of the last four issues in their communities.

Two hundred thirty-five newspapers participated in ComBase 2008-2009, which includes media consumption data for community newspapers, daily newspapers, ethnocultural and other newspapers, radio, television and Internet.

Results for individual markets have been distributed to participating newspapers. ComBase is in the process of releasing the complete database to media planners who use information systems software. National and regional highlights, as well as a list of markets and media, are available on the ComBase website at www.combase.ca. Data requests may also be submitted via email to research@combase.ca.

Showing support for Canadian newspapers!

Over the past few months several debt-ridden newspapers in the U.S have made headline, as Canadian newspapers continue to prosper. The Canadian Community Newspapers Association in partnership with the Canadian Newspaper Association will be providing members with a pro-newspaper ad campaign to acknowledge the many of the country’s papers who consistently deliver to significant audiences across the country,

Visit http://www.cna-acj.ca/newspapercampaign/ for more info.

Webinar: The State of the Newspapers

Suzanne Raitt of the Canadian Newspaper Association

On June 18^th the associates of the BCYCNA have the opportunity to enjoy some of the many perks of membership! On this occasion, Suzanne Raitt, VP of Marketing and Innovation, from the Canadian Newspaper Association is sharing a new Webinar presentation called “The Newspaper Report.” It highlights the power and effectiveness of newspapers. Topics addressed include:

• Newspapers are not dead – they continue to be strong and relevant
• The influence of online newspaper sites
• Newspaper strengths
• How newspapers can be used strategically
• Innovative use of newspapers
• Newspapers deliver ROI  

The latest research and case studies from Canada and around the world are used to present the message.

Suzanne holds a strong background in Marketing and Advertising. She began her career in packaged good marketing (at Hershey and Robin Hood Multifoods). She then moved to the ad agency side of business working with agencies such as Saatchi and Saatchi and MacLaren McCann. With a previous stint at the Association, recently she re-joined the team from the Toronto Star.

Cost: $60. (Use one speakerphone & one computer and you can train as many people as you like)

Cancellations are permitted up to 24 hours prior to the start of the Webinar session. All other registrants will be billed for the session. Please forward cancellations to k.shardlow@ocna.org

Title: 2009 Report: The State of Newspapers
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. 

System Requirements
PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista.
Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/916625721.

Finalists Announced for Ink & Beyond Convention

The Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA), in partnership with the Canadian Newspaper Association (CNA), will host the Ink & Beyond Convention from May 20 to 22, 2009 at the Centre Sheraton in Montreal. The event includes a trade show, plenary sessions and breakouts geared toward small and large newspapers, in addition to the CCNA’s Better Newspapers Competition.

Winners for the 2009 Better Newspapers Competition (BNC) were announced on Monday, March 16th, 2009 and, once again, BCYCNA members have a stronghold on many of the 31 categories. Winners have the opportunity to accept their award at the BNC Banquet on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 in Montreal.

The BCYCNA would like to congratulate all our winners and finalists for all the great work you do. Click HERE for a list of all our winners. Way to represent the West Coast!