4.1.1    General editorial direction

Showcasing the sky and the latest science

• New discoveries
• Tools that facilitate research
• Complex concepts at the layman’s level; education

Featuring professional Canadian astronomers

• The people themselves
• Their tools
• Their work

 

Space and astronomy science

Supporting Canadian amateurs

• Authoritative beginner resources
• Exhibiting Canadian astrophotography
• Promoting destinations and travel to sites in Canada

4.1.2 Challenges

Magazine

• Contributor concerns largely addressed

• Production

• Ad sales

Website and newsletter

• Content update required

• Ongoing technical bugs

Overall outreach strategy

• Lack of coherent outreach strategy

• Service desk

• Grants

4.1.3 25th anniversary

“Anniversary year” branding

• Stretch out anniversary full year

• Continue into next year

   

Promotion and outreach suggestions

• Branded observers’ kits
• SkyNews gathering
• Considering logistics of trip / “Expedition”

4.1.4 May-June edition

25 years of SkyNews (Chris Gainor, Allendria Brunjes)

 

25 years, Q&A (Allendria Brunjes)

 

Dark Energy (Ivan Semeniuk)

 

Is there life on Mars? (Elizabeth Howell, Nicholas Booth)

 

Explore the Night Sky (Brian Ventrudo)

Celestron StarSense Explorer review (Alan Dyer)

 

Beginner Sky (Nicole Mortillaro)

 

Summer Star Parties (Christine Kulyk)

 

Historical Tourism Sites in the West (Vincent McDermott)

 

Parting shot: Astronomer's Love Letter (Gina Payzant)

• Editor’s note
• SkyNews briefs: Solar orbiter, CASCA calls for oversight of satellite constellations
• RASC president’s column
• RASC briefs: Favourite observing stories, and more.
• Other: 15-year-old small town astrophotographer, using SkyNews images as an inspiration for art.

 

Other pieces

4.1.5    SkyNews ultimate goals

We’re in a healthy position, but we need to support what we have.

Four pillars need to be secured

• Content
• Sales
• Distribution
• Community / reputation

When these things are secured, we can focus on…

Strong financial foundation

• Increased grant revenue
• Increased ad revenue online and in print
• More magazine and newsletter subscribers

 

Increased readership

• Greater relationship building in astronomy and space science community