What you miss(ed): 2010 Alberta Magazines Conference re-cap

We bid adieu to the 2010 Alberta Magazines Conference (AMC)!

It was a cozy affair and we hope you feel inspired, informed and invigorated. We could not have done it without our fantastic speakers, so thank you to: Melissa Ahlstrand, David Gluzman, Käthe Lemon, Trina Lo, Deb Morrison, Martin Seto, Ina Saltz, Rhett Soveran and Patrick Walsh. We also could not have done it without our staff, volunteers, board of directors, and of course, our lovely sponsors.

Congratulations also to Tom Gierasimczuk, recipient of Editor of the Year, founding editor of up! magazine. Gierasimczuk, the founding editor of up!, now in its fifth year, accepted the award and thanked his team at RedPoint Media. “RedPoint Media is a company that will always give you enough rope to either hang yourself, or spin great stories. This award is testament to RedPoint Media's focus on great storytelling, by using some of the best writers and photographers in the country. It's also testament to WestJet, for sharing these engaging tales with their guests as they travel to their next adventure.” Keep reading....

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Congratulations to the Alberta Magazines Showcase Award winners, celebrating the best of Alberta magazines:

The Alberta Magazines Showcase Awards, sponsored by Transcontinental, feature the best of what Alberta magazines have to offer, and have done so since 2003. A judging panel of magazine professionals including keynote speaker Ina Saltz, former art director for Time, Worth and Golf magazines, selected winners in three categories from nearly 100 submissions from AMPA member magazines.

Here are the winners of the 2010 Showcase:

Best Feature Layout:

Best Feature Layout – techlife magazine for “A Promise to a Tree” V 2.2 2009; designer: Andrea Yury; photographer: Amy Bizovie; writer: Lisa Ricciotti. techlife is NAIT’s technology lifestyle magazine with a focus on people, technology and innovation.

Honourable Mention: Canadian Scrapbooker for “Colour Corner – Violet.” Spring 2010; designer: Jennifer Steinhauer. Canadian Scrapbooker is Canada's first and only quarterly scrapbooking magazine dedicated to Canadians.

Best Editorial Short:

Best Editorial Short – Western Living magazine for “The Peaks of Despair” December 2009; writer: Neal McLennan. As Canada's largest regional magazine, Western Living invites readers to stretch their imaginations about living in the West.

Honourable Mention: Westworld Alberta magazine for “Brack Country”; writer: Jack Gailus. Westworld Alberta is the award-winning travel magazine of the Alberta Motor Association.

Best Cover:

Best Cover – Where Calgary, May/June 2009 for “Refresh!” May/June 2009; art director: Veronica Cowan. Where Calgary is essential reading about Calgary’s events, shopping, dining, attractions and more for visitors and residents alike.

Honourable Mention: Okotoks Living, Winter 2009 issue; designer: Jean Faye Rodriguez; photographer: Don Molyneaux.

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So revisit your notes, apply what you learned and remember to celebrate your passion for the printed—and web—page. See you at the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference next March.

- Find AMC 2010 session re-caps on our blog

- View 2010 conference pics on Flickr.

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Magazine Events

WordPress for Wordsmiths
Saturday April 17, 2010

Room 140, Alberta Teachers' Association
11010 142 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
12:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Presented by Get Publishing in happy collaboration with
MacEwan Writing Works, Writers Guild of Alberta and the Editors' Association of Canada

As a writer or editor, a website/blog is one of the most important tools for promoting your work. Whether you've had a website for years or you’re just planning your first, this workshop will show you what you need.

Using real-life examples, find out what works and what doesn’t in terms of design, structure, content, and search-engine visibility. Learn about the key features of a website and get answers to questions like:
- Why is the top left-hand corner of a website so important?
- How do I capture visitor names?
- How do I write for people as well as search engines?

Even a well-designed, well-written site is not much help if it’s difficult and costly to maintain. Learn how to quickly update and grow your website through the use of the popular open-source blogging software WordPress. Find out how easy it is to build your own site, how cost-effective it can be to have someone build it for you, and how you can maintain it yourself without ongoing costs.

To register and for more information: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/630894021

About the Presenter
George Plumley is a Vancouver Island-based web developer and the author of WordPress 24-hour Trainer. A former broadcaster and graduate student in philosophy, he uses WordPress to manage the content of all types of websites, not just blogs. George specializes in helping authors make their websites simple to update and expand.

Summer Publishing Workshops at Simon Fraser University
June, July, August

If ever there was a time to be involved in publishing - this has to be it. The industry is changing almost on a daily basis.

Book and magazine companies are exploring new ways of publishing. New media professionals are developing strategies for publishing online and electronically. E-readers are popping up everywhere. And we are in the midst of one of the most transformative eras of publishing.

Visit the Summer Publishing Workshops site and explore the new, the revised, and the ever popular returning workshops in June, July and August.

We are particularly excited about the new Mystery Writers' Retreat on Salt Spring Island.

The Symposium on the Book will focus on humour and there is no doubt it will be an hilarious day.

Many of these workshops have a limit on seats available so go explore the site and find out which workshop is right for you!

Magazine Jobs

Web Editor, Wine Access magazine published by RedPoint Media Group

(posted on March 26, 2010)
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Application deadline: 5 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2010

Wine Access magazine—an award-winning national wine publication—is seeking an experienced, proven Web Editor who is ready to take wineaccess.ca to the next level. This position requires at least two years of online content management experience. And by experience, we mean fluency in producing Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and other campaigns (including leveraging social media for SEO). You also blog for business and pleasure, are fluent in Web design and coding, and have built user-generated communities since they were still called “message boards.” You will also pursue bloggers to contribute to the site, and manage user questions as it relates to content.

In addition to daily maintenance of wineacess.ca, the Web Editor will work with Wine Access magazine editors to plan and execute print coverage online.
This is a fun and challenging opportunity to work with a small, energetic staff. As such, you will need to juggle multiple responsibilities, implement systems that meet strict deadlines and communicate effectively.

RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Coordinate and develop procedural structures, production and ongoing sign-off of daily online content and the implementation of print content online;
• Coordinate online editorial, including migrating print stories online;
• Coordinate and manage all online contesting and administrative projects;
• Integrate new initiatives, projects and content models for assigning freelance contributors;
• Generate and direct site design solutions with Web developers and/or designers;
• Commission and edit content; assist editorial staff in developing contributor roster;
• Implement online procedural systems as necessary;

Read FULL JOB POSTING for Web Editor (Wine Access)...

Marketing Manager - JuneWarren-Nickle's Energy Group (JWN)
(posted on March 19, 2010)
Location: Calgary
Full-time, salaried

The JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group (JWN) is the largest energy publishing house in Canada, leading the way in the publishing of oil and gas industry magazines, directories, maps and charts, and custom products.

JWN is seeking a self-starter with a multi-disciplinary approach to join its dynamic team. The qualified candidate will be responsible for developing, managing and implementing a marketing strategy, plan and budget for the JWN product portfolio, as an integral part of the overall business plan.

Position Requirements and Qualifications:
Reporting to the Publisher, the Marketing Manager will be responsible for hiring, training and managing all direct reports (currently one); providing analysis and input for new products; recommending marketing strategies; as well as leading research initiatives and representing JWN at industry functions.
Marketing Planning:
• Developing an integrated marketing plan and budget for all JWN products, as an integral component of the marketing & sales plan and business plan for JuneWarren Publishing.
• Developing an internal marketing plan to ensure all JWN products and services are strategically represented across the corporate portfolio, with a view to maximizing internal opportunities for brand and product promotion.
• Conducting market research & analysis and compile data on marketing trends, competitive products and pricing.

Read FULL JOB POSTING for Marketing Manager (JWN)...

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To UNSUBSCRIBE from MagaScene, please send an email with the subject "UNSUBSCRIBE" to ampa@albertamagazines.com.

MagaScene is written and compiled by Anh Chu. To be in included in the next issue of MagaScene, please send an email to ampa@albertamagazines.com.