London's Other Newstand - Online and in Print - It looks good on the outside but deep problems lie within.
While it certainly is a diverse offering most of these publications and sites are vulnerable to the same problems which put other community print publications and on-line sites out of business recently.
Lack of ad revenue, the cost of production, (web or print), and the high cost of staff and technology often doom small newspapers with the best of intentions.
On-line Only
www.LondonTopic.ca For Local, Provincial, National and International News - Created and Edited by London's Ross McDermott. Fresh from the Dragon's Den Ross is ready to keep slugging away at the Free Press and other old line news distributors in London. His coverage of the PCB Disposal Issue this Spring topped all media players.
www.altlondon.org - Barry Wells is without doubt the one to go to at Altlondon if you want to know what is going on at City Hall or around town. He covers news wherever it happens but he has a nose for news around City Hall. He served nearly a decade as Scene Magazine's editor when it was London's edgiest print magazine. He has broken more than a few stories around City Hall in the last few years before the Free Press even began covering them. If you like getting the skinny on City Hall watch this site. You'll get a few laughs and you'll get a leg up on a few stories developing at 300 Dufferin.
www.northeastender.ca This is my baby. I don't pretend to cover all of London, Ontario or Canada. The site was built to help Northeast London. It was never built as a commercial enterprise. With the various news media sources which contribute regularly to the site and others which are coming on stream regularly the site has recently passed it's 200,000th hit. The site gives me and anyone else in Northeast London and London a venue to showcase their writing, art, photography and other submissions.
The news source which changes daily is the life blood of the site but the many other features such as the photo journal, local links, favourites and opportunities to post submissions are gaining in popularity. Links to media releases at the LPS, City of London, Thames Valley District School Board and others have given the site a reason for readers to come back daily. The area I live in on Kipps Lane is like a black hole for communication and it is still my hope that this site will help change that.
The format of the site could be copied in various areas around the City by community groups at low cost. Nothing would please me more.
PRINT AND WEB SITES - ENGLISH AND NON-ENGLISH
SNAP LONDON NORTH - This publication is in it's first year. You can reach the on-line edition at www.snaplondonnorth.com . Print editions are found in businesses around North London and Northeast London. Distribution in North London
THE INSIDER (COMMUNITY PASS)
The Insider (Community pass) is in its second year. It covers stories relevant to the African and Carribean communities in London. Some of its articles are written in scripts of languages other than English but the paper is largely written in English. The web address is www.insiderlondon.ca
North London Beacon
The Beacon has served North London for many years. It is distributed twice monthly. It delivers a nice mix of large colour photos, feature articles and columns from local personalities such as Ward Councillors and Sgt. Tom, O'Brien who writes on Traffic and Safety issues. The Beacon does have a web site. I need to disclose that I write freelance for the Beacon and I am proud to do so. Everywhere that I have gone to report on a story I've noticed that the Beacon is well received and respected. To the best of my knowledge it is the last English Community/Neighbourhood Paper in Business since several folded in the past few years.
The Londoner - I hesitate to include the Londoner in this mix. While it contains a great deal of community news it is also partially owned by the same corporation which owns the London Free Press which has stripped its daily of most of its community news. It is distributed free of charged through boxes and to non-subscribers of the Free Press as well so it is included.
Probably the best known community paper in London with partial ownership by SunMedia production and distribution problems are not as severe. The Londoner is distributed through the Free Press and Star Mail to non-subscribers.It manages to print on a weekly basis with columnists and feature writers. The on-line edition can be reached at www.thelondoner.ca . City Wide Distribution
Spanish
Latino
Latino is probably the best known Spanish paper in London. You can find it at Shoppers Drug Mart and many other Locations. The Editor and Journalist Mr. Jose Rey is at almost every event I go to. He also does a half hour program on Rogers in Spanish as well. Latino! is jam packed full of news from the London Latin Community, Provincial and even International news. The site is getting some fine tuning right now so it's not up. but the URL is www.magazinelatino.com. Have a look at it some time.
La Jornada
La Jornada is billed as "London's Bilingual Hispanic Newspaper." There are many Londoners, including myself who are learning Spanish. This newspaper is ideal for them. It's great to learn where you have instant translations. The paper has local, provincial and federal news. The web site can be reached at www.LaJornada.ca
Prensa Latina
There is yet a third local Spanish paper serving London's nearly 70,000 Latin population. La Prensa Latina is smaller and is not in colour but the content is good and it is still a good read. You can reach it's web site at http://www.prensalatina.info/index.htm
African/Carribean
The Insider
The Insider (Community pass) is in its second year. It covers stories relevant to the African and Carribean communities in London. Some of its articles are written in scripts of languages other than English but the paper is largely written in English. The web address is www.insiderlondon.ca
French
L'Action - This French Language newspaper describes itself as The Newspaper of the Francophones of the Region of London-Sarnia-Woodstock-Owen Sound.(Translation from the French) The distribution of the French only paper is limited to French schools, libraries, French offices, cultural centres etc. There is no web site link.
Arabic
Al Bilad
Canadian Arabic & English Newspaper Published in London, Ontario.
The 40 page issue which I picked up was for May 2008. It is written in both English and Arabic. The paper is in its 7th year. The quality of the layout is excellent. The paper has reached a high degree of success both in its level of advertising and number of articles, cartoons and many other features. The web address is www.albilad.net
Al Saraha
Monthly, Cultural, Independent, and Comprehensive Newspaper, Published in London, Ontario by Shala Arts, Centre. The paper is printed completely in Arabic. It is printed completely in colour. There is no web site listed.
Polish
KALEJDOSKOP
KALEJDOSKOP is written for readera in Cambridge, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo and London. Most of the paper is written in Polish. The web site can be reached at www.kalejdoskop.ca . The on-line edition is in English and Polish.
Chinese
London Chinese Press
The Bulk of the Print edition and ads are printed in Chinese. The web site offers more English. The web site can be reached at www.citycnet.com
