On Demand Books Develops New Era in Publishing

A New York-based company, On Demand Books LLC, has come out with a revolutionary product called The Espresso Book Machine, which prints public domain books on the spot for the consumer.

 The so-called ATM for books, the Espresso, can print out any one of the 200,000 public domain titles producing a finished product identical to factory-made copies. The machine is designed to provide readers with an alternative to the likes of Amazon, or second-hand booksellers, in order to instantly find what they want.

 ODB has also been careful to point out the machine’s green benefits. The machine could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional publishing, by allowing production of titles exactly to match demand, thereby reducing the number of unwanted books that must be pulped, as well as cutting back their transport emissions. It will enable publishers to cut out supply chain costs, match consumer demands and therefore eliminate unwanted returns.

 The New York Public Library, The University of Alberta Bookstore, and The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont have all opted to use the Espresso. Teleread reports that the EBM set up at the University of Alberta last year cost US $144,000.  

Good & Bad News for Canwest

So the circulation of today’s newspaper industry is not always on the decline. The online edition of MARKETING takes an interesting look into the rise and fall of circulation in Canwest newspapers.

According to the article, Canwest is currently right-on their projections for the current year. Phyllise Gelfand, Canwest Publishing’s director of communications, calls this ascent and decline, “[a] targeted circulation strategy.” Many of the Canwest newspapers have seen a drop in circulation; however, Canwest’s English-language paper in Montréal, the Gazette, has seen its largest increase of circulation in the past year. To read this insightful article, click HERE.

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!

Stopping the Presses? Don’t think so!

With the current challenges of the newspaper industry, it may appear the demise of newsprint is around the corner. The April 2009 issue of PRESSTIME covers an interesting article entitled, “Don’t Stop the Presses!,” which considers the newsprint future. The article speaks with ten experts who share their insight of the industry and the important role the press plays for readers.

An excerpt for the article reads: “We found areas of agreement and divergent opinions. Think of this as a stimulating dinner party conversation about the future of print, and pull up a chair at our table.”

The experts answer pivotal industry questions such as: What is the mission of today’s core newspapers? A number of newspapers are eliminating sections or days of distribution. Do these efforts strengthen the core product in the long run? Who is the audience for the core newspaper in terms of readers and advertisers? Who should it be aimed at? What will the core newspaper look like in two, five and 10 years?

Check out the full article including podcasts HERE.

2009 BCYCNA Ma Murray Awards Gala Highlights

Chuck Bennett welcomes new BCYCNA president Scott Nelson at the 2009 Gala.

The BC & Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA) held its annual BCYCNA-Bell Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond.

Kicking off this year’s celebrations was the CN Scholarship Luncheon, where the BCYCNA handed out $24,000 to college and university students from all over British Columbia. The chosen students all hope to pursue careers in community newspapers, in the fields of applied communications, graphic design, journalism, sales and marketing.

The weekend also included a Board of Directors meeting, as well as the Association’s Annual General Meeting.

Vancouver's own Stonefoxx Dance Crew perform on stage.

Catalyst Paper returned once again as sponsor of the President’s Reception, which took place Saturday evening just before the Awards Gala Dinner. A record 317 guests enjoyed some delicious hors d’oeuvres and drinks before being invited into the River Rock Show Theatre to say farewell to outgoing BCYCNA president Chuck Bennett and to welcome new BCYCNA president Scott Nelson, who then introduced the 2009-2010 BCYCNA Board of Directors.

This year’s BCYCNA-Bell Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards Gala kicked off with a toe-tapping performance by Stonefoxx Dance Crew, followed by a delicious dinner, plenty of wine, and an address by five-time Olympian Charmaine Crooks.

Five-time Olympian champion Charmaine Crooks.

Emcees Gloria Macarenko and Paul Bae then took their place at the podium to hand out the awards. Proving to be a hilarious match-up as MCs, they did a fantastic job narrating the evening.

Paul Bae & Gloria Macarenko hosting the 2009 Gala.

Among the many awards presented throughout the evening, this year’s Eric Dunning Integrity Award recipient was Brian McCristall, recently retired as publisher of the Tri-City News. With a lifetime of experience, integrity, and leadership, Brian McCristall is deserving of this recognition. The BCYCNA Board of Directors is pleased to honour him with the Eric Dunning Integrity Award. 

Recently retired as publisher of the Tri-City News, Brian McCristall accepts the Eric Dunning Integrity Award.

In total, the BCYCNA handed out awards in 44 categories of the BCYCNA-Bell Ma Murray Community Newspapers Competition, and all were well-received and will surely be proudly displayed in community newspaper offices all over British Columbia and Yukon.

The staff of The Whistler Question backstage after receiving the Newspaper Excellence Category C Award.

Of course, the celebration didn’t end with the awards.BCYCNA members are known for their prowess on the dance floor, so when the gala was over, everyone moved back into the Theatre Lounge to keep the party going! With a DJ, snacks, drinks, and plenty of mingling, the party only picked up momentum. For those with extra energy, the Presidential Suite up on the ninth floor was open till the wee hours.

The 2009 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards were an overwhelming success. The BCYCNA would like to thank our title sponsor, Bell, as well as our major event sponsors, Catalyst Paper, BCLC, and CN, for their continued support of the community newspaper industry. We would also like to thank all of our awards sponsors: BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, the Black family, British Columbia Arts Council, British Columbia Automobile Association, British Columbia Press Council, Byron Sheardown, Canada Post, Canwest Community Publishing, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Horizon Publications, Hub International, Jeff Gaulin Media, New Car Dealers Association of BC, News-Net, Port Metro Vancouver, Provincial Health Services Authority, TELUS, Thompson Rivers University School of Journalism, and WorkSafeBC.

Ma Murray showgirls outside of the River Rock Theatre.

Watch this space for video highlights to come soon!

Otherwise, see you in 2010!

MA MURRAY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS AWARDS GALA - TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is the biggest night on the Community Newspaper calendar, and members from all over BC and Yukon are getting ready for what will be a fun filled night of celebration and recognition with colleagues and friends.

The BCYCNA management team has been hard at work for months to ensure tomorrow night will be one to remember.

The festivities at the River Rock Casino kick off with the Scholarship Luncheon, hosted by Stephen Robertson publisher of the Yukon News and Chair of the BCYCNA Scholarship Committee. The committee rewards promising young journalism students from throughout the area.

The Awards Dinner kicks off at 7:30 with hosts Gloria Macarenko and Paul Bae accompanied by performances from the Stonefoxx Dance Crew! DJ Jesse Preston is on hand to make sure the after party carries on well into the early hours - make sure you bring your dancing shoes!