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NEWS RELEASE

 
March 8, 2012
For Immediate Release

Saskatchewan’s Regional Magazine Receives Innovation Funding

Ottawa, Ontario – Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, is pleased to announce that the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, has approved a $24,975 funding agreement with Prairies North: The Magazine of Saskatchewan. The funding promotes business innovation within the digital and print publishing industry.

“We’re thrilled,” commented publisher Michelle Hughes on receiving the news. “Delighted, actually. This money will allow Prairies North to accomplish some long-held technological goals.”

The magazine, published in the rural community of Norquay, has been a welcome addition to the province since its first issue in 1998. Pursuing what they saw as a need for a regional publication to represent the province, Hughes, and her husband, editor-in-chief Lionel Hughes, cranked out the first issue of the magazine on a rented Mac computer in their kitchen.

Known for its stunning photos and excellent editorial content, Prairies North proudly calls attention to Saskatchewan’s unique cultural, historical, and ecological landscape. From kitchen table publishing, it has grown from a few hundred copies to over 11,000 subscribers and a circulation of 20,000 print copies. But the multiple award-winning magazine reaches readers far beyond Saskatchewan’s borders, in over twenty countries.

Regarding technological goals, Hughes says the magazine has eased gradually into the technological aspect of magazine publishing. “We need to keep our website (PrairiesNorth.com) dynamic for our readers and friends. Along with the digital magazine (complete content available to paid subscribers), we can now offer our visitors fascinating blogs and an online newsletter. We’re also building a corner we call the Prairies North Traveller, which allows people to pinpoint an area of the province and search out services such as accommodations and restaurants.”

She notes that the magazine has no plans to cease its print edition. “The content of any digital magazine depends on the support of the print publication. We want to keep all the aspects of our magazine strong. This funding will help us do that.”

By enabling and strengthening the viability of Prairies North through the expansion of its technological capacity, this funding project also meets the government’s goals of keeping Canada’s economy strong through supporting its small business sector.

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