Traditional political campaigns dead, it’s a digital world now, say experts
Traditional political campaigns that don’t have a digital first focus are dead, say experts. “Where traditional campaigns spend weeks putting together high production value TV ads, a well run campaign of today and of the future is focused on short, snackable, mobile content. It’s focused on livestreaming video, it’s focused on digital rapid response, it’s […]
Hill Times finalist for four OCNA Better Newspaper Awards in 2015
The Hill Times is a finalist for four awards in this year’s Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Awards Competition, including best feature writing, best news story, cartoonist of the year, and best vertical product, or magazine. The OCNA recognizes “the outstanding quality of work produced each week” by member newspapers. Mark Burgess’ story, “Love, […]
Where’s Ezra when I need him?
TORONTO—It being Lent and all, I was canvassing Scripture and—bear with me here—I was reminded of Ezra Levant and his Rebels. Rona Ambrose may think she is the leader of the opposition, but she isn’t. Ezra is. As a lawyer, a political assistant, a magazine publisher, a newspaper columnist, a TV talk-show host, Ezra has […]
Guillon to leave Press Gallery, Lafrance steps in for now
Terry Guillon, the longtime chief of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, or the go-to guy between the Hill media and Parliament, is leaving his job this week and will be replaced on an acting basis by his deputy, Collin Lafrance, who has been the gallery’s manager. Mr. Guillon, 55, has been a fixture on the Hill as the […]
Do Canadian media really need saving from new regulations?
OTTAWA—The ongoing financial struggles of Canadian businesses that have traditionally delivered the news—particularly newspapers and local broadcasters—have generated considerable discussion and consternation over the past month. With significant layoffs, newspaper closures, and testimony before the Canada’s broadcast regulator that the cost of delivering local news is unsustainable, there have been mounting calls for new funding […]
Politics This Morning: Electoral reform should be democratic, say opposition
Electoral reform should not be in the purview of the governing party, but all parties with representation in the House of Commons, says NDP MP Nathan Cullen. “For Canadians to have confidence in the process that we are about to undertake, and for the results to more accurately reflect the broad voices of Canadians, I […]
Readers will determine success of Postmedia newsroom merger, says outgoing Citizen editor
The latest round of cuts by Postmedia News will mean a single newsroom will produce both major dailies in Ottawa, as is the case in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. While the plan has garnered criticism, outgoing Ottawa Citizen editor Andrew Potter said that while the mechanics are “difficult,” he doesn’t think it’s impossible to manage. Ultimately, it […]
Postmedia News cuts 90 jobs, ‘what is changing is how we produce these products’: Godfrey
Postmedia News cut 90 jobs across the country and merged newsrooms in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa last week. The Sun and the Province in Vancouver, the Calgary Herald and the Sun in Calgary, the Edmonton Journal and the Sun in Edmonton, and the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun in Ottawa will share newsrooms […]
Political leaders need to fight for our newspapers
TORONTO—A good newspaper, playwright Arthur Miller once said, is a nation talking to itself. So what happens when our newspapers start to die? Will the nation die, too? Full disclosure: I love newspapers. I have been a reporter at two (Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen) and a columnist at three (National Post, Ottawa Citizen and the […]
Your handy, dandy guide to this session’s best Parliament Hill parties
Hillites: prepare to have fun this session because a taste of social Ottawa is coming at you, fast and furious. Given the uncertainty around when the 42nd Parliament would start, many fall events were delayed until the new year, so now after a quiet fall, the winter and spring events calendar is filling up. So, wipe the […]
