TransLink jacks up ad spending in Canwest papers
TransLink may have fallen on hard times financially, but that hasn’t stopped it from pumping huge sums of money into large publishing companies this year.
Canwest Global Communications Corp. newspapers received $527,913.68 in advertising revenue from the regional transportation authority in the first eight months of this year, according to data supplied in response to a Georgia Straight freedom-of-information request. That’s more than double last year’s figure of $236,764.89, and four times TransLink’s purchase of $131,516.77 in advertising in Canwest newspapers in 2007. Approximately 52 percent of the ad spending with Canwest this year went to its daily papers, with the rest going to the company’s community papers. The Vancouver Courier was the largest recipient among the Canwest community papers, collecting $78,685.90.
Meanwhile, Black Press, which is owned by Victoria publisher David Black, generated more advertising revenue from TransLink in the first eight months of 2009—$255,186.39—than it did in all of 2006, 2007, and 2008 combined ($209,985.31). More than $200,000 of TransLink’s expenditures this year went to Black Press community papers that serve the outer suburbs of Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Pitt Meadows. The largest recipient in the Black Press chain was the Surrey–North Delta Leader, which collected $80,452.81.
The commuter paper Metro generated the highest billings among free daily newspapers this year, collecting $45,789.38 from January 1 to August 31. Its rival, 24 hours, was far behind, with $2,720 in advertising revenue from TransLink. The regional transportation authority didn’t place any advertisements in the Georgia Straight, Xtra! West, or the Globe and Mail in the first eight months of 2009.
TransLink spent $920,790.31 on print advertising in the first eight months of 2009. Of that, 57 percent went to Canwest-owned newspapers; 28 percent went to Black Press; and 10 percent went to ethnic papers.
Earlier this year, the Straight reported that the City of Vancouver spent 78 percent of its print advertising dollars in Canwest papers between January 1 and July 23, 2009.
Comments
18 Comments
adman
Oct 29, 2009 at 10:26am
Wow jealous much Georgia Straight??? Did you forget about the Canada Line? Or was it the Golden Ears Bridge? Maybe it was the Central Valley Greenway, or some little event we have coming up in February.
EVIL EYE
Oct 29, 2009 at 11:20am
It is simple bribery - don't print negative stories about TransLink, SkyTrain or the Canada Line and the ad money keeps coming. Print negative stories or do any investigative reporting on SkyTrain, RAV or inept TransLink operation then no ad money.
Funny thing, I thought TransLink was broke? Guess not - sure fooled those rubes who voted to fund more money for TransLink!
Eric Chris
Oct 29, 2009 at 12:34pm
If you want to find out what is going on with transit, visit their website or call them; TransLink has a zillion dollar website which you can visit for information. Propaganda (advertising) in the tune of $1 million annually isn't necessary. By spending so much on advertising, and I use the term advertising in the loosest sense, TransLink is essentially buying goodwill from the Vancouver Sun, and if you don't think so, try sending in a story against the $130 million dollar extortion payment for the RAV Line, I mean transit stabilization plan.
The GS doesn't benefit from TransLink's advertising because it prints honest commentaries and advertisements such as the "GM Creeps and Weirdos" advertisement which ruffled some feathers at TransLink a few years ago:
http://www.southphillyreview.com/view_article.php?id=284
petra Hartt
Oct 30, 2009 at 7:17am
i feel insulted when translink says they will "consult with public" when all plans are already in place... nad province will be happy to give them more moeny for contracts for campbell's cronies!! where the lines are needed (as in suburbs) or not (ubc)
vishva glazenburg
Oct 30, 2009 at 7:23am
excellent article charlie!! we cannot expose translink enough...
Eric Chris
Oct 30, 2009 at 12:51pm
I don’t ever recall seeing one article from Ken Hardie, TransLink Director of Communications, or Tom Predergast, one of many TransLink CEOs, in the Georgia Straight. However, I’ve seen dozens of articles from these two in the Vancouver Sun. The Vancouver Sun prints whatever Ken and Tom say without any chance for anyone to comment on their biased views favouring more money for TransLink to keep the gravy train going. In fact, stories pointing out blatant lies by TransLink are censored and not printed by the Vancouver Sun.
The Vancouver Sun or Canwest is in financial trouble and under pressure to keep big money rollers like TransLink happy. It prints whatever TransLink wants in the best possible light. We are very fortunate to have an independent newspaper like the Georgia Straight in Vancouver. GS allows people to express their views about transit and TransLink. I’m glad that the Georgia Straight hasn’t been compromised by TransLink and isn’t receiving any money from TransLink.
Evil Eye
Oct 30, 2009 at 5:48pm
The Sun, Province, global TV and Bill Boring treat TransLink news releases as news. As such TransLink can claim anything it wishes, without fear of media scrutiny.
The mainstream media has never vetted SkyTrain or the RAV/Canada Line and deliberately censor negative stories. As such, the public has Translink's spin only and no credible reporting on rapid transit.
If TransLink were to claim that the UBC subway were to cost a $1.00, the mainstream media would print it and stick with the story no matter what.
The mainstream media is corrupt and only prints news that it is paid to print.
Janet
Oct 30, 2009 at 10:57pm
Translink on hard times? Tranlink is hiring or haven't you heard. Where did Translinkit find all the money suddenly. Your guess is as good as mine.
In Point Grey
Oct 31, 2009 at 3:57pm
I moved to the Lower Mainland from Brisbane, Australia, in 1995 to take a position here. After one year of commuting from Burnaby to Vancouver on the #10 up and down Hastings Street with lunatic drug addicts screaming obscenities at the top of their lungs, I decided the hassles of taking transit weren’t worth it and have no regrets over giving up transit. My health is much better as I don’t pick up every strain of flu, H1N1 or whatever other bugs, circulating in the foul air on the bus.
I currently live close to work in Vancouver and don’t drive to work even though I own a 30 mpg car. I drive maybe 2,000 km every year in my car. My carbon footprint is arguably much less than it was when I moved here to take transit and my life is much more LIVABLE and SUSTAINABLE without transit.
When I have a date with my wife, we don’t have our schedule dictated by the bus schedule or destination restricted by the bus route. If we want to spend the weekend in Seattle, we do without many of the complications associated with catching a flight, train, taxi or bus.
Transit is fine when you are a student or senior and don’t have a choice. Most people already know the benefits and shortcomings of transit. Advertising by TransLink serves no useful purpose especially if TransLink uses it to brainwash individuals with false statements of the virtues, livability and sustainability of transit.
mayors wake up ...
Oct 31, 2009 at 5:38pm
What do the mayors who are writing blank cheques for transit think about all this money spent on transit advertisements? Isn't TransLink supposedly running a lean operation with nowhere to cut costs and desperate for cash to keep from reducing service?