Hooked Up

Alberta Magazines Conference Keynote Jason Brightman Connects Magazines and Websites

by Anh Chu

Any good relationship must be mutually beneficial—a magazine and its website are no exception. Websites can attract an audience beyond geographical confines, elucidate a mag’s brand, and make money—all with surprisingly minimal start-up costs. AMPA talks to Alberta Magazines Conference keynote Jason Brightman, director of web design at PC World and Macworld in San Francisco, and former web director at Harris Publications (XXL, RIDES, SLAM) about the co-mingling of magazines and websites.

AMPA: What preliminary work needs to be done before setting up a website?
JB: It really is spending that time upfront in thinking about what story you want to tell, telling that story, and not saying, ‘we can do video, so we should do video.’

In This Issue..

- Feature: Hooked Up

- A Gala-pping Good Time

- Events

- Job Opportunities

Would you say creating revenue online is the future or what magazines must do now?
When I started working at Harris Publications, I had a desk way in the back, near the fire escape and the mailroom and nobody knew I was there. I could look around and see that all of the nice offices in the company were the ads sales folks, the ones pulling in money. So I realized that if I wanted to be taken seriously, I needed to generate revenue. There were some very simple things we could do online that could begin generating revenue. Every little bit gives you more incremental revenue and you keep building those dimes and nickels until it starts to matter. But you have to start somewhere.

How will you convert naysayers into believers?
Online doesn’t take away from the print—it enhances the brand. The magazine and the website are better because of the relationship. Also, keep in mind that publishing online is much easier than publishing in print.

It’s a matter of breaking it down so it’s very basic—figure out who you want to talk to. Most of [the online tools] are now easily accessible, free, and pretty simple to use. I’ll point out a lot of those tools during the conference. Then it becomes a much more surmountable problem. It doesn’t have to be scary.

Hear Jason Brightman live at the Alberta Magazines Conference March 6 and 7. For specific online tools and tips, register for the Lunch Buffet and Keynote Address and Session 3B: Untangling the Web.
Registration ends on February 29, 2008, so register today!

A Bash and a Gala-pping Good Time

Mix, mingle, hobnob and nosh on hors d’ouevres at the Alberta Magazines Conference Gala while enjoying performances by Matt Masters, spoken word artist Sabo Forte, and Chris Turner, noted magazine writer (recipient of four National Magazine Awards) and author of The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need.

Then bid, bid, bid the night away with silent auction items like:
• gift certificates to Chinook Centre
• Yoga kit and passes to The Yoga Studio
• passes to Calaway Park
• continuing ed course from Mount Royal College
• books from Random House
• Simple Simon Pies
• golf shirts from Source Media Group
• passes to Talisman Centre
• Robert Bateman print from Travel Alberta
• A stay at Edmonton’s Union Bank Inn

• A stay at Calgary’s Hotel Arts
• Artwork by local artists
• Brunch at River Cafe

Live auction items such as:
• A stay and a Chef’s Table breakfast at the Kensington Riverside Inn
• A getaway to Tofino’s Wickaninnish Inn

Come and see for yourself!

Register for the Alberta Magazines Conference and gala at www.albertamagazines.com. Deadline for registrations is February 29th.

Events

February 26, 2008
Marketing Chat and Book Exchange
Calgary Association of Freelance Editors (CAFE)

Share marketing tips and troubles with other freelance editors. Bring your favourite editing and writing texts and literature to exchange. Enjoy snacks and company in a cozy lounge. RSVP: Julie Wright, 730-6505, julie.wright@shaw.ca. Free parking and carpool help available.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
6:30 – 9:00 pm

Rundle Lounge (Main Floor)
The Birkenshaw Apartments
605 – 13th Avenue SW

Cost:

CAFE Members - free
Non-members - $5

Check out www.calgaryeditors.com under Events for more details.

March 6th & 7th, 2008
Alberta Magazines Conference (only ONE week left to register!)

Recharge your editorial, spice up your design, pump up your ad sales, and develop a plan to harmonize online and print. Join us at Western Canada’s largest magazine conference with keynote speaker, Jason Brightman, director of web design for PC World and Macworld. Brightman will also give a hands-on workshop about strategies for taking your magazines online. www.jasonbrightman.com

Other speakers include: Charlene Rooke, editor of Western Living magazine; Kim Machado, General Manager of CanadianBusiness.com; Mary Newberry, former manager editor for Descant magazine; Malcolm Brown, art director of Unlimited magazine; Glenn Mielke, art director for BlackFlash magazine; Kevin Menshik, director of the agency Mediactive among others.

March 6th & 7th

Red & White Club

Calgary, AB

Come rub shoulders with industry experts. For session details and to register, visit www.albertamagazines.com

March 29th & 30th, 2008

Web Weekend
Magazines Canada, Centennial College and the Alberta Magazines Publishers Association are proud to present Web Weekend Edmonton on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at Grant MacEwan College in downtown Edmonton.

Web Weekend is a groundbreaking, intensive learning event created specifically for magazine publishers. Through seminars and lab work, the expert Web Weekend faculty will deliver practical advice, tools and templates to help make your publishing business more successful. Have a look at the Web Weekend Brochure.

*Small Magazines staff: Inquire about our generous bursaries. Note: Magazines Canada members only.

LEARN TO:

- Leverage the power of digital media
- Cost your online ventures
- Market your brand effectively
- Utilize the latest tools for measurement and analysis
- Build online communities
- Increase your online revenue streams
PLUS— Our faculty of experts will be available for one-on-one consultations. Find solutions to your magazine’s specific issues—our faculty will be happy to meet with you.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

- Print and online editors
- Web development and I.T. staff
- Publishers
- Designers
- Circulators
- Advertising sales Managers

HOW MUCH?

Magazines Canada members, Alberta Magazines Publishers Association members and students: $495, others: $750

Tuition includes all materials, coffee breaks, breakfast, lunch and access to a dedicated Web Weekend Continuing Ed Forum.

WHEN?

Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30, 2008 (Saturday & Sunday)

WHERE?

Grant MacEwan College, Centre for the Arts, 10045-156 Street, Edmonton

Job Opportunities

Junior Graphic Designer – Where Calgary Magazine

Where Calgary is looking for someone creative and enthusiastic, able to work in the deadline-oriented magazine milieu. The right candidate has an excellent eye for details, organizational skills, and enjoys working with a team of designers, editors, sales reps and clients. Candidates also have design training and have worked with InDesign, QuarkXpress, Photoshop and Illustrator. Experience in print media or magazine production is an asset.

Send resume and samples of work to:
250, 125 - 9 Ave SE

Calgary, AB T2G 0P6

Attn: Art Director

or, via email to vcowan@where.ca with the word "Resume" in the subject line.

No phone calls please. Only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.