New CPF funding formula puts the emphasis on reaching readers

At long last, Canadian Heritage has released its revised formula for support under the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF). The new rules under the Aid to Publishers (ATP) segment, the core of the program, had been significantly delayed and a good many publishers have been anxious about the changes being contemplated.The new formula is based on circulation levels and success in reaching readers (rather

Federal funding cheques may not come until September, and then only part

Be prepared to wait for federal funding; that's the reminder that Magazines Canada has sent to its members in its biweekly newsletter:If you are eligible for the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund, you should be aware that support to publishers will be delayed in 2011—and the delay could be quite substantial. In the 2010 "transition year" (the first year of the CPF),

Phew, the funding is safe!

The gratitude and sense of relief of Canada's magazine industry is quite evident in a release today concerning the most recent federal budget which confirmed $75 million in support for the Canada Periodical Fund. Magazines Canada has been lobbying hard on behalf of the fund.“The CPF commitment in the budget will help create jobs and economic growth while contributing to the industry’s transition

Extra $15 million in CPF funding up in the air, Magazines Canada tells members

Magazines Canada is telling its members that the election call and the fact that the recent budget was never passed may mean 20% less money in the Canada Periodical Fund. The March 22 budget had contained a provision for a $15 million addition to the $60 million fund.The road ahead is not clear but there is a very good chance that, when payments to publishers are made in June or July of 2011,

Publisher says Canada Periodical Fund unfair to online-only magazines

The editor and publisher of CMG Online, an online-only motorcycle magazine is mounting a Facebook, lobbying and letter-writing campaign to get the provisions of the Canada Periodical Fund changed. Rob Harris's beef is that the funding earmarked for online development will go disproportionately to print magazines to create online sites that compete with web publications like his. He acknowledges

Canada Periodical Fund aid to publishers grant applications due November 24

The Department of Canadian Heritage is reminding magazines that they have only until November 24 (that's next Wednesday) to apply for the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund. The applicants' guide is available at the DCH website.

Fuse magazine appeals to its subscribers for a $40,000 way out of a financial crisis

Fuse magazine, one of Canada's older arts and culture magazines, has been forced by a financial crisis to appeal for a bailout from its supporters in what they are calling their 40 for 40 campaign. Keying off their forthcoming 40th anniversary, they are trying to raise a total of $40,000 by March 31 of which they need to have  at least $10,000 in hand by December 1. A letter sent to subscribers

Magazine publishers given just six weeks to apply for CPF program for 2011-12

[This post has been updated]Canadian Heritage has just published its application guide for aid to magazine publishers and has given publishers barely six weeks to apply. The deadline is November 24. The aid to publishers component provides publishers of paid or verified request magazines with funding to produce and distribute their publications. The complete eligibility criteria are here. Paid

Canadian Heritage announces $52.7 million in Canada Periodical Fund grants

[This post has been updated] The  Aid to Publishers' grant data for the Canada Periodical Fund for the 2010-11 year have been released and are available online. A total of 484 titles received $52,669,029 in grants ranging from the largest, at $1,500,000 to the smallest, at $386. The CPF replaces the postal subsidy (Publications Assistance Program) and the Canada Magazine Fund (CMF).

(As reported

Small- and mid-sized mags have until Sept. 17 to apply for CPF Business Innovation funding

Small and mid-sized print and digital magazine publishers have until September 17 to put in their applications to be eligible for the current round (2010-11) of the Business Innovation component of the Canada Periodical Fund from the department of Canadian Heritage. Applications received later will not be considered until the 2011-12 round. The business innovation program offers support for

New rules make for winners and losers in the new Canada Periodical Fund

MastheadOnline has compiled a good and interesting rundown of the winners and losers (actual and potential) under the rules for the new Canada Periodical Fund, finally announced this week.

Canada Periodical Fund abandons small literaries, cuts maximum funding for all but farm pubs

[This post has been updated]
[Update: Magazines Canada has issued a statement about the new Canada Periodical Fund. President and CEO Mark Jamison said:
Magazines Canada welcomes the new Canada Periodical Fund (CPF). The CPF is an important cultural program designed to help Canadian content reach Canadians. It replaces both the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) and the Canada Magazine Fund (

Is consistency the hobgoblin of the heritage ministry?*

The minister of Canadian Heritage, and by extension his department, can at least be given points for their consistency. Recently, as a result of a review process, Heritage has decided to terminate a program that supported independent performers and small scale independent music-making in favour of support for enterprises that are considered more commercially marketable.If this sounds familiar, it

Canadian Business Press calls for federal fairness in funding

The Canadian Business Press, which represents about 119 b2b, trade and farm titles published by 46 companies, has asked the federal government to completely overhaul its support to the Canadian magazine industry to ensure that the business and trade press gets its fair share of funding. In its 2009 pre-budget submission to the Commons' standing budget committee on finance, the CBP

Give responsibilty -- and money -- for small mags to the Canada Council, Mags Canada says

The federal government is being urged by Magazines Canada to transfer responsibility and the approximately $620,000 funding envelope that affects small cultural magazines distributing fewer than 5,000 paid copies annually to the Canada Council for the Arts.In its pre-budget submission to be released today (Monday), Magazines Canada says that while it supports the new Canada Periodical Fund (CPF),

Time is ticking away for solution to small literary and cultural mag funding

Last week at MagNet and the Magawards, there was considerable corridor talk about if and whether the federal Department of Heritage was softening its stance on eligibility rules for the soon-to-be-launched Canada Periodical Fund, which is replacing lonstanding supports such as the Publications Assistance Program (postal subsidy) and the Canada Magazine Fund.Early drafts said that publications

Magazines Canada wants targetted program for small arts & literary mags

Magazines Canada has told its members it is intent on negotiating revisions with the Department of Canadian Heritage to the announced provisions of the new Canada Periodical Fund. There are three areas of concern where it intends to press for changes:Arts and literary publications with <5,000>The cap on large magazine contributions should be "rethought" and even if it stays lowered to $1.5

New Canada Periodical Fund holds steady at $75.5 million

The new Canada Periodical Fund is expected to deliver about $75.5 million in funding support for the magazine industry. The CPF -- which will merge the Publications Assistance Program and the Canada Magazine Fund starting in 2010 -- has essentially preserved the level of funding previously received. The announcement was made this morning in Montreal.This can be considered a major accomplishment

New Canada Periodical Fund to be unveiled Tuesday

The much-anticipated merger of the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) and the Canadian Magazine Fund (CMF) will be unveiled on Tuesday by Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore. Word is that invitations have gone out to key players in the industry so they can be in Ottawa Montreal for the announcement. The new program is expected to be launched starting April 1, 2010.The anticipation of the