What if you didn’t just read your printed newspaper, but truly experienced it?

Publications enhanced with augmented reality are now allowing newspaper readers to experience print in exciting new ways; to look past the ink-on-paper surface and access deeper, richer content from their newspapers.

During a recent INK+BEYOND session on Layar technology, Alvin Brouwer, Glacier Media’s president of lower mainland publishing and digital, described newspapers as the world’s first truly interactive media. “They exist across multiple platforms, offering print, audio, video, digital, broadcasting, social and ecommerce services to its increasingly diverse audiences.” Brouwer was joined by Nigel Newton from Layar, the world’s leading augmented reality brand, to show delegates how this new technology can help newspapers to increase engagement, improve utility, generate new revenue and tell a better story.

Get a hands-on review of mobile as it relates to content creation, curation an

On May 3, Mandy Jenkins from Digital First Media will lead an interactive session on Social Media Strategy during the INK+BEYOND newspaper conference and trade show in Ottawa.

As a seasoned social media expert, Jenkins will show newspaper delegates how to create an effective strategy to optimize their online content, engage their readers and increase site traffic. From established social networks like Twitter and Facebook to emerging platforms such as Vine, this session will give delegates an overview of the exciting opportunities for newspapers within the current social media landscape.

Newspapers Canada's 2013 webinar series continues in April with four new training sessions designed for staff from a variety of newspaper departments. Upcoming topics include retail sales, mobile marketing and multimedia excellence. Unless otherwise noted, all of our April webinars are just $25.00 to attend (or by subscription) and run on Tuesdays from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (EST).

Montreal-based daily La Presse is launching a new daily digital edition of the newspaper on April 18. The La Press+ app will be made available free-of-charge for digital tablet devices. In explaining why La Presse has decided to go with this subscription model, president and publisher Guy Crevier said, “Making the news available free is now a well-entrenched practice in the digital universe and indeed, we believe, an irreversible phenomenon.”

In this digital age, tablets have become a convenient and popular way for readers to access news 24/7. Digital expert Andree Gosselin O’Meara will share her expertise on what mobile audiences want and need at a special speaker presentation on Thursday, May 2 during the  INK+BEYOND newspaper conference in Ottawa. 

As director of audience development for mobile and digital at The Globe and Mail, Gosselin O’Mera has experience in launching a successful tablet app. She will share her insights on the process and highlight how newspapers can successfully grow and profit in the digital realm during this practical, how-to session. She will also present data on tablet audiences and how they differ from print and and online readers.

Glacier Media has teamed up with Layar to introduce augmented reality (AR) technology throughout all of its properties in Lower Mainland, British Columbia. Glacier publications will now feature extensive use of AR in both editorial and advertising content. The Layar app, which can be downloaded on iOS or Android devices, operates as image recognition software by invisibly tagging images, logos and icons with codes to allow the augmented reality components to appear instantly on a reader’s smartphone or tablet when scanning the AR content.

Effective February 1, 2013, Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice is implementing a new code of behaviour concerning the use of electronic devices in courtrooms. Under the Protocol on the Use of Electronic Devices in the Courtroom, certain individuals—including counsel, paralegals, law students and clerks, self-represented parties, and media or journalists—will be permitted to use electronic devices such as computers and smartphones in silent mode and in a discreet and unobtrusive manner, subject to certain restrictions.