The Alberta Magazine Awards has awarded Alberta Views magazine the 2023/24 Magazine of the Year, in recognition of how consistently the publication engages and serves the needs of its readers! 

Did you know the publication has contributed to public discourse—to the very cultural and political landscape of this province—for over a quarter of a century? Alberta Views is known for offering alternative perspectives and provocative stories their readers can discuss with one another and share with their friends, family, and community. 

There was high praise for Alberta Views at the September 26, 2024 awards gala celebration, as a publication with “tight, compelling editorials, and columnists whose well-sculpted voices hit the tenor of the magazine” and “exceptional journalism with well-researched stories about the issues affecting Albertans.”

Winning this award is a morale boost for the team, says founder Jackie Flanagan, “Sometimes we feel like the voice crying in the wilderness, so this affirms the value of what we do.” 

This voice has continued to be heard amid the clamour of online news and opinion. With the rise of social media, Alberta Views has survived “a true cultural revolution” in print media—a topic self-reflexively chronicled in the very 25th Anniversary issue the judges had before them for consideration. 

The judges were also looking at the November 2023 Wild Fiscal Ride issue, which, as described by business manager Shawn Petsche, “challenges and deepens broadly-held beliefs about the magazine, both with a humorous cover, and an equally deep analysis of the province’s financial woes.” A sentiment echoed by editorial associate Geoffrey Pickets, who believes that both of these issues highlighted “the playfulness of the editorial team.” Readers appreciate a good laugh alongside the insightful seriousness of the magazine, as we all ride the boom-and-bust rollercoaster and navigate this province’s wild political landscape together.

For acting editor Tadzio Richards, an industry award like this offers “recognition of the continued need and demand for thoughtful long-form journalism and analysis of public interest issues in Alberta.” It’s a gentle urge from peers to keep doing what Alberta Views is known for doing so well. Most importantly, as circulation manager Quin Lancaster states: “The magazine industry isn’t going away anytime soon.”

[You can participate firsthand in the success of the industry with your subscription to an Alberta magazine. For a limited time, save 50% on your choice of two subscriptions, including Alberta Views, as part of AMPA’s Read Alberta subscription promotion.]