Maclean’s unveils its biggest redesign in more than a century

SJC Media debuted a new look for Maclean’s with its September issue when it hit newsstands today, the magazine’s first redesign in a decade.

Described as the most extensive redesign in the magazine’s 116-year history, the new look includes a new nameplate, bolder designs, more photography and a longer issue printed on better-quality paper. Elements of the redesign have been incorporated into its website, though a more extensive digital redesign is planned for later this year.

The redesign also comes with what the magazine is calling a broadening of its core mandate that EIC Alison Uncles describes as “more feisty, vibrant and even more relevant,” reflecting younger readers’ increased activism and engagement with issues like race and the environment. To bring more of the “zeitgeist” into its politicis and public affairs coverage, the new focus also includes an increased focus on long-form journalism, a revamped interview section, new sections that keep up on the country’s current events and more coverage of society, science, technology, arts and trends.

Maclean’s currently has over five million monthly readers across print and digital, with unique web visitors topping seven million at the outset of the pandemic.

Adviso hires new team lead and digital media experts.

Quebec-based digital agency Adviso has made six additions to its team.

Leading the new additions is Martin Gagnier as performance team lead, working as part of Adviso’s recently combined content marketing, customer experience and digital transformation team. He is coming off of nearly five years at Quebecor, where we most recently team lead for digital marketing.

The agency has also added a trio of new digital media analysts: Myrna Aragno, Titouan Dureau and Simon Robillard, with the goal of adding to its digital and programmatic expertise.

The agency has also brought on Sanmohini Pellerin as director of talent and culture, helping manage Adviso’s HR and develop its culture, as well as Lowen Mistoul as coordinator of technical support on the IT team.

Star Cineplex enlists Next for music content

The first edition of the new Star Cineplex magazine was released on Saturday, and it featured a little bit more than movie news.

New publisher Torstar has enlisted music magazine Next to provide a two-page music spread, part of publisher Salah Bachir’s effort to broaden the magazine’s art coverage, which also includes fashion and food. The spread includes things Next has made hallmarks of its coverage, such as bite-sized list content and its “30 Second Album Review” feature, as well as a QR code to find a local distributor, for those who would like to read more.

Founded in December by NOW co-founder Michael Hollett, Next delivers more than 50,000 issues across Canada monthly. The first issue of Star Cineplex had a circulation of 350,000.