Edmonton Journal
Encyclopedia
The Edmonton Journal is a daily newspaper
in Edmonton
, Alberta
. It is part of the Postmedia Network
.
's first newspaper, the 23-year-old Edmonton Bulletin
. Within a week, the Journal took over another newspaper, The Edmonton Post, and established an editorial policy supporting the Conservative party
against the Bulletins pro-Liberal
stance. In 1912, the Journal was sold to the Southam family. It remained under Southam ownership until 1996, when it was acquired by Hollinger International. The Journal was subsequently sold to Canwest in 2000, and finally came under its current ownership, Postmedia Network Inc., in 2010.
In 1905, The Journal began operating from a building on the corner of a lot on 102nd Avenue and 101st Street. Its present location at 101st Street and 100th Avenue was established in 1921, and Alberta's first radio station, CJCA, began broadcasting from the building a year later.
In 1937, the Journal came into conflict with Alberta Premier William Aberhart
's attempt to pass the Accurate News and Information Act
requiring newspapers to print government rebuttals to stories the provincial cabinet
deemed "inaccurate." After successfully fighting the law, the Journal became the first non-American newspaper to be honoured by the Pulitzer Prize
committee, receiving a special bronze plaque in 1938 for defending the freedom of the press
.
After the Bulletin folded in 1951, the Journal was left as Edmonton's oldest and only remaining daily newspaper. The monopoly continued until The Edmonton Sun
began publishing in 1978.
(Cappies), and has partnerships with a number of arts organizations in Edmonton
, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
and the Alberta Ballet Company
. It also supports community events such as the Canspell National Spelling Bee
.
According to the Canadian Newspaper Association
, the Journal boasts a weekly circulation of 830,343 as of September 2009, making it Edmonton's newspaper of record
.
The Journal has also begun operating under a new commitment to digital media in addition to traditional print. Most recently, this has included a redesign of the Journal website, digital and mobile editions of the paper, and increased presence in social media platforms. A number of writers and columnists for the paper also keep blogs with a wide range of topics.
During the summer months, the newspaper's website has a popular live camera of a Canada Goose
and its eggs.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. It is part of the Postmedia Network
Postmedia Network
Postmedia Network Canada Corp. is a Canadian media company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, consisting of the publishing properties of the former Canwest, with primary operations in newspaper publishing, news gathering and Internet operations....
.
History
The Journal was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as a rival to AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
's first newspaper, the 23-year-old Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton Bulletin
The Edmonton Bulletin was a newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta published from 1880 until January 20, 1951. It was founded by Frank Oliver, a politician and future minister in the Canadian Government....
. Within a week, the Journal took over another newspaper, The Edmonton Post, and established an editorial policy supporting the Conservative party
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
against the Bulletins pro-Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
stance. In 1912, the Journal was sold to the Southam family. It remained under Southam ownership until 1996, when it was acquired by Hollinger International. The Journal was subsequently sold to Canwest in 2000, and finally came under its current ownership, Postmedia Network Inc., in 2010.
In 1937, the Journal came into conflict with Alberta Premier William Aberhart
William Aberhart
William Aberhart , also known as Bible Bill for his outspoken Baptist views, was a Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Alberta between 1935 and 1943. The Social Credit party believed the reason for the depression was that people did not have enough money to spend, so the government...
's attempt to pass the Accurate News and Information Act
Accurate News and Information Act
The Accurate News and Information Act was a statute passed by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada, in 1937, at the instigation of William Aberhart's Social Credit government...
requiring newspapers to print government rebuttals to stories the provincial cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
deemed "inaccurate." After successfully fighting the law, the Journal became the first non-American newspaper to be honoured by the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
committee, receiving a special bronze plaque in 1938 for defending the freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
.
After the Bulletin folded in 1951, the Journal was left as Edmonton's oldest and only remaining daily newspaper. The monopoly continued until The Edmonton Sun
Edmonton Sun
The Edmonton Sun is a daily newspaper published in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is a division of Sun Media, a Quebecor company.It began publishing in 1978 and shares many characteristics typical of Sun Media tabloids, including an emphasis on local news stories, its conservative editorial stance,...
began publishing in 1978.
Present day
Today, the Journal publishes seven days a week, with regular sections including News (city, Canada, and world), Sports, Opinion, A&E, Life, and Business. The newspaper participates in the Critics and Awards Program for High School StudentsCritics and Awards Program for High School Students
The Cappies ' is an international program for recognizing, celebrating, and providing learning experiences for high school theater and journalism students and teenage playwrights....
(Cappies), and has partnerships with a number of arts organizations in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to country...
and the Alberta Ballet Company
Alberta Ballet Company
The Alberta Ballet is located in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. It is Canada’s third largest dance company. Alberta Ballet has developed a distinctive repertoire and performance quality that has brought it to the forefront of national and international stages.- Creation :The Alberta Ballet was...
. It also supports community events such as the Canspell National Spelling Bee
CanSpell National Spelling Bee
The Postmedia Canspell National Spelling Bee, formerly called the Canwest Canspell National Spelling Bee, is a spelling bee held annually in Canada since 2005. The bee is affiliated with the United States-based Scripps National Spelling Bee and uses similar rules and word lists, adapted to best...
.
According to the Canadian Newspaper Association
Canadian Newspaper Association
The Canadian Newspaper Association is the national organization of daily newspapers in Canada, founded in 1996. It is a non-profit trade association and lobby organization, which represents more than 100 Canadian English and French newspapers...
, the Journal boasts a weekly circulation of 830,343 as of September 2009, making it Edmonton's newspaper of record
Newspaper of record
Newspaper of record is a term that may refer either to any publicly available newspaper that has been authorized by a government to publish public or legal notices , or any major newspaper that has a large circulation and whose editorial and news-gathering functions are considered professional and...
.
The Journal has also begun operating under a new commitment to digital media in addition to traditional print. Most recently, this has included a redesign of the Journal website, digital and mobile editions of the paper, and increased presence in social media platforms. A number of writers and columnists for the paper also keep blogs with a wide range of topics.
During the summer months, the newspaper's website has a popular live camera of a Canada Goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
and its eggs.
Editorial Staff
- John Connolly, Publisher
- Lucinda Chodan, Editor-in-chief
- Barb Wilkinson, Deputy editor
- Peter Maser, Business editor
- David Howell, Assignment editor
- Shelley Bindon, Driving editor
- Therese Kehler, City editor
- Karen Unland, Website editor
- Keri Sweetman, Arts & Entertainment editor
- Sandra Sperounes, Assistant Arts & Entertainment editor
- Kerry Powell, Features editor
- Janet Vlieg, Assistant Features editor
- Randy Mark, Assistant Photo editor
- Neil Smalian, Assistant Photo editor
- Paul Cashman, Sports editor
Staff Columnists
- Todd BabiakTodd BabiakTodd Babiak is a Canadian writer living in Edmonton, Alberta. He is co-founder of Story Engine, and has published three bestselling novels. His first novel, Choke Hold, was a finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and a winner of the Henry Kreisel Award, and his second novel, The...
- Don Barnes, Sports
- Liane Faulder, Food
- Gary Lamphier, Business
- Nick Lees
- John MacKinnon, Sports
- Paula Simons, Civic affairs
- Cam Tait
- Elizabeth Withey, Arts & Entertainment