Facebooked Again.

Curses!  I was going to make a comment about a  news article on the Star Phoenix website.  But once again they only take comments from Facebook accounts.  I have no interest in getting a Facebook account, so apparently my opinions aren't of interest to the paper.  You'd think they wouldn't want to limit their audience that way.

Thumbs Down, Globe And Mail.

I was going to comment on a news article on your site today.  Unfortunately you want me to register.  You need to get with the times and allow your comments section to be logged into by readers using their existing accounts on places like Google and Facebook.  Your competitors do.

Bucking The Trend.

There's been a lot of talk in recent years about the future of the print newspaper.  Even The New York Times has faced questions about its very existence.  But Saskatoon's daily paper, the Star Phoenix, apparently doesn't have to worry.  An article in today's edition states that readership is actually increasing.  A survey by Newspaper Audience Database Inc.  shows that readership for both the print and online editions has grown more than 8 percent in 2011, the highest gain of any Canadian newspaper.  Newspaper readership in Canada reportedly remains high, with more than half of Canadians over 18 reading a print or online newspaper daily.  It would seem people find something in the written word they can't get from video newscasts or things posted to Youtube.

Meanwhile, a new paper is about to hit Saskatoon streets.  Paper boxes have begun to appear for a Saskatoon edition of Toronto based  "commuter" newspaper Metro, which will launch its debut issue April 2nd.  However, it seems they may want to be a bit careful where they put their boxes.  The other day I saw the maintenance staff at the Centre at Circle and 8th grab pick up and haul away a Metro box that had been placed by the bus shelters at the bus mall in the rear of Centre East.  I'm guessing they didn't bother to get the permission of mall management to put it there.  Not a good way to get in the good graces of a potential advertiser.

Don Versus Donations.

Saturday and Sunday saw the latest edition of a long running Saskatchewan tradition. It was Telemiracle time again. The 33rd edition of the highly successful telethon generated 3.8 million dollars in pledges. But what was the cover story in this morning's edition of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix? Sunday night's Eagles concert, the first of three for Saskatoon. Three whole pages were devoted to the concert. Telemiracle? A single two column article on page A7. You really have to wonder about the editorial priorities of the paper when a major charity event and Saskatchewan tradition plays second fiddle to a concert by a group that isn't doing anything new or important. The cynical part of me wonders if this lack of coverage today had anything to do with Telemiracle broadcasting on CTV stations in Saskatchewan, while the Star Phoenix is owned by TV broadcaster Canwest/Global.