The Canadian Society of Magazine Editors held another successful mixer on February 24th.

The Canadian Society of Magazine Editors hosted its first mixer of the year on Wednesday, February 24 at Bar Italia in Toronto. The panel of editors on hand to discuss the night’s topic – Multi-Media, One Brand – included Homemakers editor-in-chief Kathy Ullyott, Homemakers web editor Jennifer Melo, The Hockey News web editor Edward Fraser and Today’s Parent deputy editor Jackie Kovacs.

So how can editors juggle multiple platforms while maintaining one consistent brand? Start with a mission statement, said Kovacs. “Print it, frame it, know it, share it,” she said. A copy of her magazine’s mandate hangs above her desk.

She also suggested that magazines treat their websites like their Quebec: “It’s part of the same brand but it’s separate and distinct.”

Kovacs recommended creating custom content and topical news conversations to keep readers engaged on the site.

Ullyott agreed: “A website is not a slush pile for things that didn’t have a place in the magazine. We’re trying to develop content for our print application and our web application that meet both needs while still speaking to the Homemakers brand.”

It’s also a place where editors can cover time-sensitive news topics that can’t be addressed in a magazine with long lead times.

Partnerships are how The Hockey News builds brand awareness. It shares its content with ESPN, Fox News, Sporting News and Metro newspapers to grow its readership. “Instead of keeping everything in a silo, we decided to spread out as much as we could,” said Fraser.

What’s next in brand building? Customization is the key, said Fraser. “Readers want information that is pertinent to them.”

CSME members and guests gathered at the historic Arts and Letters Club on November 26th to hear veteran Canadian photographer Peter Bregg explain how to use pictures to make a good story great.

Among his tips for capturing great photos: Develop relationships with your subjects; be prepared to deal with difficult ones; make sure they’re relaxed; and don’t be afraid to experiment with lighting or props.

Images of Pierre Trudeau doing one-handed push ups, retired Canadian general Romeo Dallaire standing before a sea of human skulls and a partially dressed Madonna flashed on a screen before Bregg spoke, highlighting his illustrious and diverse career. He began taking photographs 44 years ago, when he was hired as a copy boy for The Canadian Press. At 19, he trailed Trudeau around Canada before going on to cover the Vietnam War, Iran hostage crisis and eventually work at Macleans and Hello!

Today, Bregg is a freelance photographer and instructor in photojournalism at Ryerson University.
- Jenny Vaughan
Photos copyright Alex Katz.


Peter Bregg











CSME President Bob Sexton

Registration for this event is now closed. Thanks to everyone who signed up; we'll see you there! Jessica Ross

We're using the rain date for this year's Summer Barbecue. It's July 30th! To put yourself on the barbecue list, please email csmeadmin@canadianeditors.com by July 29.