CSME members and guests gathered at the historic Arts and Letters Club on November 26th to hear veteran Canadian photographer Peter Bregg explain how to use pictures to make a good story great.

Among his tips for capturing great photos: Develop relationships with your subjects; be prepared to deal with difficult ones; make sure they’re relaxed; and don’t be afraid to experiment with lighting or props.

Images of Pierre Trudeau doing one-handed push ups, retired Canadian general Romeo Dallaire standing before a sea of human skulls and a partially dressed Madonna flashed on a screen before Bregg spoke, highlighting his illustrious and diverse career. He began taking photographs 44 years ago, when he was hired as a copy boy for The Canadian Press. At 19, he trailed Trudeau around Canada before going on to cover the Vietnam War, Iran hostage crisis and eventually work at Macleans and Hello!

Today, Bregg is a freelance photographer and instructor in photojournalism at Ryerson University.
- Jenny Vaughan
Photos copyright Alex Katz.


Peter Bregg











CSME President Bob Sexton

Registration for this event is now closed. Thanks to everyone who signed up; we'll see you there! Jessica Ross

We're using the rain date for this year's Summer Barbecue. It's July 30th! To put yourself on the barbecue list, please email csmeadmin@canadianeditors.com by July 29.

2009 Editors’ Choice Awards: Today’s Parent Takes the Large-Circulation Magazine of the Year and Editor of the Year Awards

The Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME) announced the 2009 Editors' Choice Awards winners on Wednesday, June 3.

Spacing, Vancouver, Today’s Parent, and Design Edge Canada took home the titles of Magazine of the Year at this year's Editor's Choice Awards, in the categories of small-, medium-, and large-circulation, and trade magazines, respectively.

It was a double-win for Today’s Parent, with editor Caroline Connell also landing the Editor of the Year honour.

“It’s really great to be recognized by our peers. I’m glad I got a babysitter tonight,” said Connell.

Other awards handed out at a gala dinner, held in Toronto as part of the annual MagNet conference, included Up Here, winner of the Jim Cormier Award for Best Display Writing, Style at Home for Best Front of the Book, and Hockey News, winner of the inaugural Best Website award.

“These awards recognize the best of the best in Canadian magazines. Since our industry is feeling the same economic pinch as so many others, there’s never a better time to celebrate achievement. Tonight was a night to forget about finances and focus on recognizing the talented people who put together this year’s award-winning magazines,” said CSME president, Bob Sexton.

Attendees at the dinner included Spacing editor Matthew Blackett, Ann Meredith Brown of Design Edge Canada, The Hockey News web editor Ed Fraser, and strong contingents from Canadian Home Workshop, Cottage Life, Outdoor Canada, and Homemakers.

Another award-winner, the Globe and Mail’s Graeme Smith, shocked and awed attendees with tales of life covering the war in Afghanistan.

Guests were also entertained with pre-dinner music by The Aline Morales Band’s Brazilian beats and, after the awards presentation, by CSME’s own mixmaster, DJ Bob Sexton.