Saving Money Smartly

D.B. Scott Shows Publishers Where to Trim the Fat

“Restructuring” and “cost-cutting” are two terms that have been uttered frequently during the economic downturn. What that means for Alberta’s independent magazine publishers, who already run lean machines, is that they need to find ways to further stretch their dollars and keep their businesses viable. There’s no better time for AMPA to host, Taking a hard look: Money-saving strategies for publishers, a seminar with national magazine consultant, D.B. Scott.

Strategic planner and President of Impresa Communications, D.B. Scott offers some insights on effectively budgeting without compromising quality. For more concrete actions, register for the Money-saving strategies seminar taking place on Friday, December 11th in Calgary.

AMPA: What’s the biggest assumption you’ve seen publishers make about these tough economic times?
D.B. Scott: The biggest assumption is that there is very little that an individual publisher can do in the face of recession, world economic problems and changing technology.

What’s a common mistake you’ve seen publishers make in an attempt to cut costs?
DBS: The biggest mistake they make is cutting where it is easy rather than where it is smart.

What can attendees expect to get out of your session?
DBS: Of course they will take out what they need, but I hope they will each take away at least one, good, implementable idea, back to their publication for saving costs.

Register today!

Taking a hard look: Money-saving strategies for publishers
There is money to be saved in most, if not all, magazine budgets. Of course publishers should pursue efficiency whenever they can; but in hard times, it's even more important to trim wisely and well. In this seminar, magazine consultant D. B. Scott will examine the typical magazine budgets and explore the kinds of hard questions that need to be asked by the people who manage them. Where is the greatest potential for saving money? And areas where it is penny-wise, but pound foolish to cut? The seminar will provide an opportunity to talk about attending magazines' particular challenges and to identify at least one area everyone can dig into when they get back to the office.

About the Speaker
D. B. Scott (David), the President of Impresa Communications Limited, has built a solid reputation as a consultant, writer, blogger, teacher, market researcher, publisher and editor. His concentration and specialty is the magazine industry. He has been called on for advice in such critical areas as strategic planning, content development, marketing, launches and relaunches, redesigns, audience surveys and focus groups, meeting facilitation and review and development of production and publishing systems. He is a member of Magazines Canada' professional development committee and its Travelling Consultants program. He teaches The Business of Magazine Publishing at Ryerson University in the Chang School for Continuing Education.

Friday, December 11, 2009
1:00 pm to 4pm
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, 2425 9 Ave SE, Calgary

Travel bursaries are available to qualified out-of-Calgary magazine members.

Register now via ampa@albertamagazines.com or 403-262-0081.

AMPA Members: $35
Non-members: $45

Magazine Job Opportunities

Last updated December 8, 2009.

Postings are free for AMPA members, or $20 for non-members.

Please email your posting to ampa@albertamagazines.com

Assistant to the Managing Director, National Magazine Awards Foundation

Application deadline: December 8, 2009

(posted on November, 27, 2009)
Contract duration: December 2009—June 30, 2010 Contract type: Part-time

Description:

The successful candidate will be working as an integral part of a team with the NMAF Managing Director and the NMAF Communications Manager as well as other staff and volunteers, and specifically will:

* Oversee most of the day-to-day operations of the NMAF office;
* Handle the office-related communications and outreach with the Canadian magazine industry in both English and French—including but not limited to responding to phone calls, voice mail and general email;
* Assist with the creation/editing of content of a bi-monthly electronic newsletter, the NMAF website, media releases, and other formal correspondence;
* Manage some of the duties of NMAF part-time staff and volunteers;
* Assist with ongoing and future projects to promote the NMAF and its various initiatives, including but not limited to the Kenneth R. Wilson awards, the online Awards Archive, the Award-Winning Creators Profiles, promoting participations in all of Canada’s regions, and more;
* Provide regular updates for government status reports as directed;
* Attend Board and committee meetings and record the minutes;
* Aid in the coordination of the submissions, judging and event-planning processes;
* Assist in other event planning and office management tasks

Requirements:

* Exceptional communications and interpersonal skills;
* Familiarity with the Canadian magazine industry;
* Ability to work independently and on deadline with goal-oriented projects;
* Solid writing and editing skills;
* Knowledge of French;
* University diploma in journalism, communication, English, or similar;
* Strong interest in fulfilling the mandate and vision of the National Magazine Awards Foundation.

 

Terms and Remuneration:

The contract will endure until June 30, 2010, with the possibility of renewal for a full year through June 30, 2011. The average weekly commitment may range from 16 hours per week (Dec; Feb-Mar; Jun) to 28 hours per week (Jan; Apr-May). The contract position requires a minimum of 750 hours across the year and compensation for this contract will be $15-$20/hour, depending on experience. Options for additional hours with other Gould managed projects at negotiable rates are possible.

Applications:

Please send a cover letter and resume noting at least two professional references to the attention of:

Richard Johnson, Communications Manager

staff@magazine-awards.com

The National Magazine Awards Foundation
425 Adelaide St West, Suite 700
Toronto, ON, M5V 3C1

Production Intern (Coordinator) January 4 – December 31, 2010

Maternity Leave Contract - RedPoint Media Group

Salary: $1600 monthly to start (details below)

RedPoint Media is currently seeking a fourth year intern who needs to complete their final (or final 2) Directed Field Studies and then to continue on to provide Contract Maternity Leave Coverage beginning January 4, 2010 and finishing December 31, 2010 (start date may be earlier). Applicants for the position will provide a large variety of services within the Production department including, but not limited to the following:

1. Production Coordinator for the following magazines: West, up!, Prelude, Ballet, Opera, Broadway Across Canada Playbills. In this capacity you will do the following:

* create and update flatplans

* process / track / build / preflight ads and provide proofs to the traffic coordinators

* place ads within the document, preflight document and provide high-rez proofs

* provide some photo research and design work for some publications

2. Admin support for RedPoint Media

* format proposals for the Executive Vice President on provided templates

* print and bind final proposals

3. Support for Creative Director / Director of Business Development

* provide production services for occasional internal or corporate projects as directed by the Creative Director or Director of Business Development

Read FULL JOB POSTING for details and how to apply.

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Magazine Events

Check out the Alberta Magazine Events page for details on these events and more!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Wine and Literary Pairings, presented by the Writers Guild of Alberta

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Passion Pitch presents: "Pathos, Punchlines, and Painkillers"

Friday, December 11, 2009

Taking a hard look: Money-saving strategies for publishers with D.B. Scott

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Winter Wonderland at Canada Olympic Park, with Calgary's Child Magazine

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas in Calgary Family Skate, with Calgary's Child Magazine

January 29 to 31, 2010

Camp BCAMP

February 5 and 6, 2010

The Future of Story at MacEwan's School of Communications

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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.