Crossmedia TO 2011 aims to bridge the gap between the media sectors, this month’s focus is on publishing.

On Wednesday July 20th, Crossmedia TO will host several interesting speakers including: Candice Faktor, Vice President of Strategy and New Ventures Torstar Digital, Gavin McGarry, President of Jumpwire Media LLC, Dr. Eric McLuhan, Bryan Segal, Vice President of comScore Inc, Jordan Van Schyndel, co-founder of Present Feedback as well as alumni James Milward, co-founder of HERD.FM.

HERD was conceived at the CFC Media Lab’s NBC Universal Multiplatform Matchmaking Program where co-founders Romeo Candido, Davin Lengyel and James Milward challenged themselves to find a new way to share music. HERD is a new mobile application and community platform that uses GPS technology making it possible for artists, brands and music lovers to connect through music and locations that matter to them.  (www.herd.fm)    (www.facebook.com/herd)

Crossmedia TO takes place on the third Wednesday of every month, be sure to attend them all!  To stay in the loop on the schedule and focuses of the sessions please visit  http://crossmediato.com/future-events/ .

The Centre for Creative Communications, Centennial College, is seeking innovative and forward-thinking proposals from Canadian media, interactive, creative, technology, business and social entrepreneurs for the next wave of children’s media and multi-platform projects to qualify for $50K federal development grants. The new kidsmediacentre, an industry and creative content think tank at Centennial College, will hold an Information Session to interested developers, on Thursday, Feb 24 at 5:30 p.m., at The Centre for Creative Communications, located at 951 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto.

Centennial College’s Applied Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC) has received ten $50K Federal Development grants, some of which are available to help small and medium enterprises in the kids’ technology industry launch the next big idea in children’s media. The grants are part of a coordinated strategy between the federal government and colleges to accelerate innovation and productivity in southern Ontario asking business partners to collaborate on projects and work “hands-on” with College faculty and students in developing new and innovative technologies and services. Businesses are asked to contribute at least $25K towards a project in cash and/or in-kind.

The interactive web component of Storming Juno was created by Secret Location’s Executive Producer/Writer and CFC Media Lab Alumnus, James Milward.

…For the full ReelScreen article, visit: www.realscreen.com/articles/news/20101110/stormingjuno

*Storming Juno featured today on history.ca!

2020 Media Futures (2020mediafutures.ca) is an ambitious, multi-industry strategic foresight project designed to understand and envision what media may look like in the year 2020.

By participating in 2020 Media Futures, you’ll be contributing your vision to an innovative research project which will help build capacity and drive innovation in Ontario’s Creative Cluster by helping companies and organizations to ‘future-proof’ themselves, preparing for opportunities and challenges brought on by the rapid evolution of media.

Through the practice of “strategic foresight,” the project will enable stakeholders to better manage uncertainty through deeper understanding and anticipation of change.

If you know of others who you think might be interested in participating in the Delphi, please pass them the link: 2020mediafutures.ca/delphisurvey

Attention Alumni! Corus Interactive is seeking stellar Supervising Producer!

Corus™ Interactive (Toronto) is looking for a Supervising Producer with excellent production and managerial skills to oversee the daily operations and delivery of the Kids & Family websites and web content for YTV, Treehouse, CMT, and Nickelodeon Canada. This position reports into the Director of Interactive.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience running a team that delivers high-quality online experiences, excellent traffic metrics, innovative integrated sponsored campaigns and large-scale production budgets.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure the Network websites perform optimally, function as required, and continue to deliver innovative features and functionality.
• Maintain and grow Kids & Family websites as category traffic leaders.
• Manage large-scale production and operations budgets, including work with Director of Interactive on forecasting and managing costs, efficiently produce or acquire excellent web content, and consistently ensure costs are on or under budget.
• Lead production for Kids & Family Network websites and get the best performance and products out of internal and external teams.  Ensure that all websites operate with minimal downtime, bugs addressed quickly and appropriately, new features needed are identified and produced in a timely manner.
• Understand the OIDMC tax credit system, ensure maximum number of projects qualify for tax credits, and assist in the preparation of application documentation.
• Lead the community activities for these brands, including strategic implementation for message boards, loyalty programs, UGC and social media activities; understand all applicable regulations (e.g. PIPEDA) and legal best-practices, membership system design and flow, and organization of the moderator pool.
• Secure and track rights for digital assets used on the sites, including contract negotiation, rights management and documentation. Oversee the implementation of all legal guidelines and processes by both internal team and external partners.
• Lead a high-performing team of Producers, Project Managers, and coordinators.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proactive, positive, and thrives in a fast-paced highly-collaborative production environment
• Comprehensive understanding of interactivity and the Web, website technology and production practices.
• Passionate advocate for and consumer of interactive media for kids and parents.
• Minimum 5 yrs professional experience in a senior production or managerial position
• Excellent communicator and problem solver. Ability to shepherd a wide range of stakeholders with complicated brands.
• Knowledge of information architecture, usability best practices, and demographic use patterns.

Corus is committed to providing a fair and equitable work environment and encourages applications from qualified women, men, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities.

For more information on Corus™ Entertainment Inc., please visit us at www.corusent.com



Seminar Series to Assess the Financial Landscape of Digital Media in Canada:
With the recent launch of the Canada Media Fund, the financing landscape for Canadian film and television has changed dramatically. New media extensions are part of the new reality and there are a LOT of questions that are probably on your mind:

• When should I start planning?
• What are the implications for my production?
• Who should I work with?
• How will this help my bottom line?
• Where can I find out more?

To answer these and many other questions, the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, the CMPA and Zeros 2 Heroes Media are continuing the seminar series that has been held in cities across the country. Speakers in Toronto will include:

• Andra Scheffer, Executive Director, Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund
• Shawn Bailey, Director, Chocolate Liberation Front
• Jessica Clark-Bojin, Head of Entertainment Business, VFS
• Johnny Kalangis, Creative Director, Marble Media, and CFC Media Lab Alumnus
• Matt Toner, President, Zeros 2 Heroes Media

These speakers will share years of experience working with convergent media and provide the inside track on how best to advance your production. With the next Bell New Media Fund and CMF windows fast approaching, it is time to finally figure out the best way to go digital.

Calling all mediaLEADERS!

Media Intelligence (www.mediaintelligence.ca) is searching for a Senior Editor / Project Manager to join Toronto’s Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow’s ICT Skills (CCICT) on a full time contract position (August 2010 – March 2011) with a possible extension of two years or more.

The CCICT is an industry-led national initiative whose mission is to reverse an alarming decline in IT-related post-secondary enrollments, historically low female participation, and significant shifts in demand – against the backdrop of growing demand from every sector for expertise in digital tools and technologies…

Our message is that today’s IT-related careers are different. They are about leadership and innovation, rather than being stuck in a cubicle doing routine programming. Examples of these exciting careers include tech entrepreneur, social media guru, business change leader, digital media artist, life scientist, and clean energy engineer.

To check out the full job description, click here: http://mediaintelligence.ca/files/posts/000105.pdf

THE WHAT: Cross Media TO 2010

THE WHEN: 6 – 9:30pm, July 21, 2010

THE WHERE: MaRS Centre, 101 College St. Toronto

CMTO 2010 features an all-star line-up of industry executives and technology experts. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the different media sectors in order share information and find new opportunities. We want the gaming people to meet the TV people, the publishing people to meet the web video people, and everyone to meet the advertising people but let’s be honest, in the end, it’s all about the money.

Headline speakers include:

Lisa Charters – SVP Director Digital for Random House of Canada

Sabrina Geremia – Head of Agency Relations for Google Canada

Pete Watson – Senior Business Development Manager for RIM

Steve Pratt – CBC’s Director of Digital Music

Other special guests include:

Dr. Siobhan O’Flynn – Transmedia Consultant and CFC Media Lab Faculty Member

Chris Van Hoy – Akamai’s Chief Strategist

For more, check out www.crossmediato.com