Sun re translation

An e-mail to TSF from James Wallace, the Toronto Sun's editor in chief, regarding the hockey blog plagiarism accusations:

"Surprised you bought into allegations (Dave) Fuller would plagiarize.

"Here's what actually happened.

"The Czech hockey magazine, Hokej, wrote an article quoting (Tomas) Kaberle's father saying he's surprised his son is staying with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"A Canadian blog site cut, pasted and we're told had a reader translate the article ­ then posted an English version on their website.

"Now they're upset because we did not credit them. To be clear, ­ we did see the story first on the sports blog. Then we did what journalists are supposed to do - ­ checked the original article from Hokej, ran it through Google Translate and did our own work to validate and rework the quotes for accuracy.

"Quotes, as you're aware, are part of the public record and it's acceptable journalistic practice to use quotations from another source particularly if they are properly attributed.

"That's what we did, attributed quotes we used in our story to Hokej, which actually invested the resources into interviewing Kaberle's father and producing the original story.

"Hope this clears things up."

Thanks for the e-mail, James. As we said, use of the word plagiarize by the blog involved is a stretch.

If that is plagiarism, TSF has been victimized many times by other blogs ripping off quotes, mostly recently quotes from Eric Margolis about his exit from the Sun.

We could go ballistic over not being credited by a few blogs, but cutting and pasting in print, the Net and broadcasting is rampant and has been for decades.

Cutting and pasting without proper credit goes to the core of the media outlet or individual involved. They obviously do not respect the work of others.

That said, we prefer to name and highlight media and blogs that do respect the work of others, not dwell on the ignorance of lesser entities.

Margolis letters

We thought Sunday being the day Eric Margolis was published before his exit Aug. 15, the Toronto Sun was saving letters about his departure for yesterday's Sunday Sun.

But not a letter, not Sunday or Monday through Saturday, in print or online. Gone - and forgotten by the Sun, if not by readers, judging by the volume of comments and e-mails sent to TSF.

That is rather small of the Toronto Sun after Margolis provided the tabloid with readers for 27 years.

The London Free Press was a slight improvement, posting two letters about his departure during the week, one saying he'll be missed and the other saying he won't be missed.

We don't know if any other papers in the Sun Media chain published letters about his exit, but the flagship Toronto Sun should have shown some class by publishing a letter or two.

PPP blog blues

Updatd re Sun/PPP/Google translation
Lost in translation?

The blogger sphere is abuzz over Toronto Sun sports stories allegedly containing a blog's translated quotes without attribution.

Pension Plan Puppets, a Toronto Maple Leafs blog, accuses Dave Fuller of lifting quotes it spent time to have translated to English without crediting the blog.

The gist, as we see it, is rather than use language translation software, the PPP blogger had a real live translator sit down to translate the quotes verbatim.

And, the blogger says, those same translated quotes appeared in the Sun sans PPP credit.

Does that constitute plagiarism?

Check out PPP's arguments here and decide for yourself. Plus a copy comparison page here.

If guilty as charged, we'd call it lazy and inconsiderate, but plagiarism? That's a stretch.

OT: Morrison grave

Kevin Price, a Toronto-born teacher of English in South Korea, sent TSF a Jim Morrison grave photo taken during a recent 10-country swing through Europe.

Morrison died in 1971, but his gravesite in the huge Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris remains a big draw.

Flowers, etchings, empty pill containers . . .

The Doors singer is remembered.

"Oh yes, I'm a fan," Kevin tells TSF. "Going to his grave was a priority for my trip to Europe. I wish we had more time in London because I was going to go to the flat where Jimi Hendrix died and where Bonn Scott died as well. Oh well, reasons to return."

Thanks for the photo, Kevin.

Just asking

If we are meant to learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others, why are children still drowning in backyard pools, falling from highrise windows and dying in vehicles in the heat of summer?

We've been writing and reading those stories since the 1960s.

TorSun & Ford

Updated re Jonathan Jenkins input
Bruce Corcoran, managing editor of Sun Media's Chatham Daily News, tells TSF the Toronto Sun deserves kudos for its Robert Ford drug bust story.

He writes:

"I think the Toronto Sun deserves kudos in your blog in regards to the fact the Sun broke the Robert Bruce Ford story.

"The Globe is playing followup bigtime today, and refers to the 'story in the Toronto Sun' both in print and via audio from Kelly Grant, Globe city hall bureau chief.

"I haven't been following it closely, so I'm not sure if Rob Lamberti was the lead reporter from the Sun on this, but he's the guy who got his hands on the police arrest form."

Kudos to the Toronto Sun, Rob Lamberti and all other contributors to the story.

(Lamberti tells TSF: "Ah, thanks but a tremendous amount of kudos goes to Jonathan Jenkins. He took the bull by the horns and packaged it together.")

It is gratifying to hear from the managing editor of one Sun Media paper congratulating the work done at another paper in the chain. That is class.

We already know the Globe has class when it comes to acknowledging the work of other newspapers by name.

Denmark odour

The Globe and Mail's Lawrence Martin says Ottawa insiders are suggesting there will be a CRTC house cleaning to clear obstacles to Sun Media's bid for a Fox News North TV network.

His column today is required reading for Canadians intrigued by government/media bedfellows.

The CRTC has told Sun Media it would be Oct. 1, 2011, at the earliest before its application would be considered. Sun Media wants a Jan. 1, 2011, launching.

Would Prime Minister Stephen Harper play a role in clearing roadblocks to a far right network being orchestrated by his former PMO chief?

Scary stuff, Lawrence.

Political meddling aside, we were wondering when the carnage in Sun Media's Parliamentary bureau would warrant mention in mainstream media.

The body count was high, but there has been little mention of the obvious purge to accommodate more Fox News North-oriented bodies.

Well, Martin raises the issue of the ousting of Greg Weston, a 10-year Sun Media political writer.

Weston was fired, along with Elizabeth Thompson, Christina Spencer, Peter Zimonjic and Kathleen Harris, who is still writing for the Sun but as a national reporter from outside the bureau. Op-ed columnist Eric Margolis has also been turfed after 27 years.

Martin writes:

"Mr. Harper is benefiting very nicely from the Péladeau connection. When Mr. (Kory) Teneycke took over Sun Media’s political coverage, one of his first moves was to unload columnist Greg Weston. Mr. Weston, one of the most straight-shooting and incisive columnists around, broke the fake-lake story before the G20 summit. His reward? The noose.

"Mr. Harper must have been pleasantly surprised that the developments at the Sun chain caused barely a ripple of opposition from other Canadian media. It may embolden him to crush any CRTC opposition to the granting of Sun TV’s licence."

All we can say is if Sun Media's Fox News North gets a Jan. 1, 2011, Category 1 launch date as requested, that odour throughout the land won't be Danish cheese.

Paper wars story

The full Canadian Business article on Toronto's newspaper wars is online at CB Online.

The lengthy Thomas Watson article can be read here.

Tireless Peter W

Tales of the heart . . .

World politics.

Animal rights.

Hockey.

Football.

Veterans.

Media.

Crime and punishment.

Peter Worthington has covered it all as a reporter and columnist since the 1950s, including sports for the Ubyssey, the University of British Columbia student newspaper.

As Peter says in his 1984 book, Looking For Trouble, it was probably better in the long run that the Vancouver Province never gave him a sports job.

He moved on to the Telegram in 1956 as a $60-a-week reporter and the rest is print media history.

Peter, a few months after writing about hockey, writes about CFL football today, returning to his post-Korean War university days.

A few days ago, he wrote about his heart and the remarkable stories it has generated since the first of eight bypass and replacement surgeries in 1978.

Peter W. - a Canadian newspaper icon with eight-plus decades of adventurous living to draw from daily for the benefit of Sun readers.

30: Ted Kowalski

In the old nabe - Bathurst and Dupont - the Diamonds made us proud in the 1950s.

Among the originals was Ted Kowalski, a tenor who made a difference with their early hits.

Ted died Aug. 8 in Whitby from heart disease. He was 79. Toronto papers, including the Globe and Mail, have been catching up to his passing and giving him deserved recognition.

Nothing in the Sun to date, but Mike Filey is from the same nabe, so he might have some words for the Toronto music legend who recorded with the quartet for five years.

The Diamonds got together for a TV special a few years ago and a YouTuber put this 50-year tribute together for fans.

Contracts info

So what did the nine Sun Media newspapers settle for with their unique coordinated bargaining strategy?

Brad Honywill, president of CEP Local 87M, says wage increases for this round of bargaining "followed a pattern of 0-1-1.5% over three years, although getting a defined benefit pension plan amounted to a 5% increase in some cases."

Papers involved were the Sarnia Observer; Chatham Daily News; London Free Press (editorial); Simcoe Reformer; Stratford Beacon-Herald (advertising); Brantford Expositor; Niagara Falls Review; Belleville Intelligencer; and Pembroke Observer (editorial).

Says Honywill: "There were many other gains of various significance at various newspapers. Overall, the contracts were strongly endorsed by the membership, the best possible proof that the coordinated bargaining was a success."

Contract negotiations for several other Sun Media newspapers, including the Toronto Sun, are pending.

Honywill also provided TSF with a replay leading up to the settlement:

"Last fall, Sun Media came to the union with a new health benefits plan to replace the myriad of plans at the various newspapers across the chain. We were told that the plan was 'non-negotiable' and that it would apply to both management and union employees.

"The union had some fundamental problems with the plan.

"First, we didn't like being told that a change to compensation - and benefits are a part of compensation - was non-negotiable.

"Second, it represented a significant reduction in coverage for many people, although it was in different ways for different people in different workplaces.

"Third, it segregated health benefits into three plans which, ultimately, would concentrate the heavy users in the most expensive plan, driving up rates for that group, and encouraging most people to go into the cheapest plan with the least amount of coverage.

"Lastly, the plan assumed that any future cost increases in health care would be passed on to our members.

"In exchange for accepting flex benefits, the leaders of the nine Sun Media workplaces in CEP 87m (SONG) received two things: a guarantee that any cost increases would be shared between the company and the members and that members would receive a benefit approximately equal to what they were losing by accepting Flex.

"For many of the workplaces, that meant getting into a defined benefit pension plan. That's a real pension plan, not an RRSP, which most companies are trying to drop because of the cost.

"But the exact 'quid pro quo' or trade-off varied according to what/how much each workplace was losing. In other workplaces, like those that already had a good pension plan, the trade-off may have been cash in some form."

Edmonton -3

TSF rarely hears from the Edmonton Sun, except when it involves departures - forced or voluntarily.

An email yesterday from a tipster says three more newsroom staffers have left the building: Jason Franson, an award-winning photographer, and reporters Alyssa Noel and Clara Ho.

"With more rumours of more people leaving in the future," says the tipster. "Unhappy staff are leaving the sinking ship."

Just what is the Edmonton Sun newsroom body count these days?

T.O. paper wars

If you want a taste of the mindset of Toronto newspaper owners, J-Source.ca has a summary of a Canadian Business story titled "Newspapers prepare for battle."

It appears Toronto's unique status as a city playing host to four traditional and competitive paid print dailies is not secure.

The conglomerates are focused on ad dollars and the bottom line, not journalism, so let's cheer for the dedicated independent newspapers watching from the sidelines.

The J-Source story says the full article by Thomas Watson - Media Wars 2.0 - will be published in the Sept. 13 edition of Canadian Business and won't be available online.

Book delay

Mike Strobel fans waiting for his first book to hit the shelves will have to wait until October, or early November.

The Aug. 11 release date for Bad Girls and Other Perils was pushed to Oct. 1 and Strobel says it might be Nov. 1 before it reaches stores.

A November release would probably be beneficial for the compilation of columns, with shoppers looking for stocking-stuffers for the big holiday in December that few people want to talk about before Dec. 1.

Meanwhile, Amazon.ca is accepting pre-release requests for Bad Girls and Other Perils.

SONG contracts

SONG president Brad Honywill says nine Sun Media newspapers collectively agreed to new contracts using a new "local-wide coordinated bargaining campaign."

Honywill, president of CEP Local 87M, writes about how the union wrapped up the nine contracts and a health benefits issue in his latest Brad's Blog posting.

He writes:

"Coordinating their bargaining for the first time in CEP 87M’s history were the following units: Sarnia Observer; Chatham Daily News; London Free Press (editorial); Simcoe Reformer; Stratford Beacon-Herald (advertising); Brantford Expositor; Niagara Falls Review; Belleville Intelligencer; and Pembroke Observer (editorial).

"The nine Sun Media units that put their necks out to achieve this victory for themselves also won a victory for several more CEP 87M Sun Media units whose contracts expire later this year because the company has agreed to accept the pattern negotiated earlier.

"Appropriately, those other units supported the nine by voting to supplement their strike pay if a labour disruption was necessary to achieve this very fair trade-off that the company initially refused to consider.

"I’m proud to say that members at the Toronto Sun, Owen Sound Sun-Times, Stratford Beacon-Herald (editorial, mailroom), Ottawa Sun and the London Free Press (general unit) voted in favour of a 1% special levy on their pay to help their brothers and sisters in the other Sun Media units, if it was necessary.

"Fortunately, a fair settlement was achieved without that special levy being required. But it warmed my heart to see the solidarity among the Sun Media members across this Local."

Elvis -33

Can it be 33 years since Elvis Presley died?

If you are working at your keyboards tonight and want to hear vintage rock and tributes to The King, check out today's Freddy Vette replay at Belleville's CJBQ.

Usually, all four hours of his 3 to 7 p.m. program are repeated, but Freddy says they got backed up by Elvis requests, so only three hours are online tonight.

In the last hour, it is all Elvis. Freddy plays the Top 10 Elvis songs as voted on by listeners and fills the remainder of the hour with other Elvis favourites.

Compiling an Elvis Top 10 is a difficult task at the best of times, but ours would be, with links to YouTube videos:

1 - One Night

2 - Don't

3 - Don't Be Cruel

4 - Have I Told You Lately That I Love You

5 - Just Pretend

6 - Mystery Train

7 - I'll Hold You In My Heart

8 - Trying to Get To You

9 - Don't Leave Me Now

10 - Peace In The Valley

The song that got this Elvis fan hooked at age 15 was I Forgot to Remember to Forget, sung by a fellow student at a Central Technical High School spring open house talent show in the 1950s.

Saw Elvis live at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1957, but didn't hear him for all of the screaming.

Favourite Toronto Sun front page from 33 years ago today: The King Dies.

What a wealth of music and memories.

Media goodbyes

It was a weekend for print and broadcast media goodbyes:

Jim Junkin, police reporter, after 41 years at CTV

At The Movies, weekly movie reviews, after 35 years on TV

Eric Margolis, op-ed columnist, after 27 years at Sun Media

Photo brokers?

The silence following TSF's posting about how freelance photographers/videographers should broker the best cash deal for THE photo or footage was deafening.

Until we got this reply from a Canadian lawyer - a reply that, considering the number of freelancers in Canada and a new generation of videographers, might prompt a lawyer or two to get into the business.

For now, it seems Canadian freelancers could be missing out on huge amounts of money in not knowing how to broker good deals with their exclusive work. Some are probably handing over photos and video to print, online and broadcast media for little or no payment.

This is the email from Marian Hebb, of Hebb and Sheffer in Toronto:

"I don't know any lawyer who has a reputation for doing this sort of brokering, perhaps because these moments don't happen that often. I think there are many competent, experienced entertainment lawyers who could stick handle this.

"Your question reminded me of someone I had met in the UK in the 1960s, before I became a lawyer - a man from whom my then-husband was considering buying a classic car.

"As I recollect he was not a professional photographer, but he had snapped THE photo of the crash that ended the racing career of legendary car racer Stirling Moss and we understood - when we met him a few days later - that he had made a fortune from it.

"I just tried to see if I could find that photo on the Internet but am happy to say that I could not - this may mean that the photographer is still making money from occasionally licensing it. In any case I hope so."

Thank you for your email, Marian.

TSF is determined to nail down the best route for freelancers to take when they feel they have THE exclusive photo or footage with national and possibly international appeal.

When time is crucial, who are they going to call?

Time wasn't a factor, but the Sun paid $10,000 for the 1991 Bernardo/Homolka wedding photos.

What paparazzi are being paid for exclusive photos of high-profile celebs is another story.

Sun mural's fate?

Two years ago, the Toronto Sun marked the 15th anniversary of its huge mural commemorating 200 years of Toronto life with a story and photos.

Doug Creighton had commissioned Toronto artist John Hood to create the Front Street mural in 1991. Hood, with the assistance of his sister, Alexandra, devoted two years to creating the mural.

Its future has been in doubt since Quebecor sold off the six-floor home office and recent rumblings suggest the mural is doomed.

Can any TSF readers update fans of the mural? Will it be demolished? Moved?

Eric's goodbye

Eric Margolis signs off as a Sun Media op-ed columnist today with this brief farewell:

"After 27 years, this is my last Sun column. I am grateful to the Sun for allowing me to freely express my views even when it disagreed with them.

"My Sunday column continues at my website: ericmargolis.com and at the Huffington Post, LewRockwell.com, Bigeye.com and newspapers abroad.

"Twitter @ericmargolis"

Whether you agree or disagree with his views, today's final column is a classic example of why he has been a Sun columnist for 27 years and has a huge following.

So much for diversity in the Sun. One more reason to reconsider paying more for less.

New Uxbridge paper

Another independent newspaper has popped up on the Ontario print media map.

The Uxbridge Standard, launched last week, is a spinoff from the independent Scugog Standard in Port Perry, where Rik Davie is publisher and general manager.

A TSF reader writes: "I thought you would like to know that in the face of newspapers closing, especially at Sun Media, a new newspaper has opened.

"This is a full paper covering news, local events, sports and entertainment. It serves Uxbridge and Port Perry area, including Greenbank, Caesarea, Utica etc., the whole north Durham area.

"Yesterday’s paper was the second one and fingers are crossed that it is successful as it is a really excellent paper, better I think than the tiny local Cosmos or the Metroland paper, the Uxbridge Times Journal published in Uxbridge."

The Uxbridge Standard is looking for volunteer reporters and columnists if you are retired, in school or fresh out of school and in need of an audience.

"In these dark days of papers closing or getting axed as a 'cost saving convergence measure,' and you know of whom I speak, a new independent is always welcome," says the TSF reader.

The reader also tells TSF:

"While I don’t always agree with your editorial comments, I do really enjoy reading your blog daily and the debates that ensue. How else will we ever find out what the heck is going on?"

Good luck, Uxbridge Standard. Let us know when your website is up and running.

OT: Carson site

It's a bit of Christmas in August for fans of the late, great Johnny Carson.

A new web site - johnnycarson.com - has some free gems including a Steven Wright clip from a 1982 appearance.

Says Steven: "One time I went to the drive-in in a cab. Movie cost me $95."

The site is basically a DVD sales pitch, but the free classic bits are appreciated.

Bono's back

You can tell Mark Bonokoski is back from vacation - his name has returned to the Comment masthead as National Editorial Writer.

When you have a minute, James Wallace, why remove his name from the masthead while he was on vacation?

Guy to Herald?

A TSF tipster says Guy Huntingford, former Calgary Sun publisher/CEO, has been hired by the Calgary Herald as publisher.

Huntingford ended a 26-year stint with Sun Media in 2007, leaving to become president and CEO of the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA) as of Jan. 7, 2008.

It appears now that his 2010 Winter Olympics job has ended, it is back to newspapers - just not Sun Media.

Jays days

A week ago, TSF applauded the Toronto Sun sports department for moving Blue Jays coverage out of the dungeon and into the early pages of the sports section.

We also wondered how long it had been since a Jays photo was on the front page of the Toronto Sun.

What a difference a week makes. Two consecutive and warranted Blue Jays Sun fronts - on Sunday and Monday - have pumped new life into T.O. print media Jays coverage.

On Sunday, it was for the Hollywood intro of catcher J.P. Arencibia to the major league, and Monday it was a front for Brandon Morrow's memorable one-hitter.

A scriptwriter couldn't have fared better as the Jays begin to challenge the mathematical probabilities of ending the season with at least the wild card position in hand.

Ask Blue Jays players if being on the front page of the Toronto Sun, with multiple-page coverage in the sports section, makes a difference in their morale.

No doubt it is win-win for the team, the Sun and readers.

What a week for the Jays. Two out of three against the Yankees and a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bring on the Boston Red Sox.

The Jays just might give Cito Gaston a farewell season he won't soon forget.

Photo brokers

The best kept freelance photography secret in Canada appears to be how to get the most out of an exclusive photo or video, instead of getting screwed by the conglomerates.

So we put it to TSF readers: You have in your possession THE exclusive news, sports or entertainment photo or video footage definitely of interest to media around the world.

Who are you going to call?

Are there lawyers out there who will act as brokers in search of the best national and international media deal on your behalf? Or are you on your own, relying on media contacts in hopes of a fair deal?

If there are brokers, give us their names and we'll give them a free plug. Other avenues?

Any advice from freelance vets?

CalSun memories

Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun sports columnist and a Calgary Sun Day Oner 30 years ago this week, posted this TSF comment last night and it is worth highlighting.

He writes:

"For the most part, the Day 1 Calgary Sun was a horrible newspaper. It was born out of the ashes of The Albertan, which was a decrepit paper with old, antiquated equipment.

"We didn't have computers. We wrote on typewriters. Even for 1980, the newsroom was old old style. But Day 1, we did have a decent sports staff, which you would expect for a Sun paper.

"We had (Al) Ruckaber (later inducted in Football Writers Hall of Fame), Eric Duhatschek (now at Globe, in Hockey Hall of Fame), me, Gary Loewen (who has had senior positions at Globe and Sun) and Cathy Motherwell, went on to run ROB at the Globe and Mail.

"Pretty strong Day 1 staff for a paper that was completely fucked up at the time and was an insane place to work (not in a good way) for the first several years."

Thanks for the memories, Steve.

Want to share your stories about the early Calgary Sun? Send us an e-mail.

Eric exits Aug. 15

Eric Margolis will say goodbye to his Sun Media readers Aug. 15, not with a full farewell column, but with a tagline bidding adieu after 27 years.

"My last column will be August 15," Margolis tells TSF a week after disclosing Sun Media has decided not to renew his contract.

Asked how he will make his exit, he said:

"I had not planned a farewell column, just a brief note at the end of the column. I've been flooded with e-mails from angry Sun readers who plan to stop buying the Sun. Nearly all are well aware of the reasons for this termination. Word certainly gets around."

Those sentiments reflect the feelings of many of the TSF readers who have posted comments.

CalSun update

Updated: CalSun 30th stories here
The Calgary Sun will mark today's 30th anniversary tomorrow.

Dave Naylor, city editor, says there will be a front page photo and a 32-page supplement in Wednesday's paper.

Why Wednesday?

"Cuz the anniversary fell on the long weekend when everyone flees town," he says in an e-mail to TSF today. "We were holding it for tomorrow."

Today's 30th anniversary wasn't part of the long weekend, but why quibble. Better late than never.

We have a "Hello Calgary" first edition from Aug. 3, 1980 here, so FYI:

It was a Sunday Sun, with 148 pages and a newsstand price of 40 cents.

Doug Creighton was publisher; Paul Whitlock, general manager; Les Pyette editor-in-chief; Glenn Slattery, assistant general manager; Susan MacDonald, news editor; Catherine Shapcott, Lifestyle/entertainment editor; Al Ruckaber, sports editor; Harry Pegg, Sunday editor.

Thirteen index-listed columnists were on hand to welcome the estimated 40,000 first-day readers: Eric Bishop, Dalton Camp, Douglas Fisher, Trent Frayne, Shirlee Gordon, Heather Hill, Moneypenny, Paul Rimstead, Al Ruckaber, Michael Shapcott, Doug Small, Jack Tennant and last, but not least and still going strong, Peter Worthington.

Plus a Page 3 SUNshine Girl by Richard Esau; Evelyn Jensen's SUNshine Boy on Page 18; a 40-page TV guide, with Mary Ann Morel at the helm; Showcase section; colour comics.

No colour for the news pages, but a promise that new Goss presses to replace the antique presses of the former 78-year-old Calgary Albertan were on the way.

And no Saturday Sun for its debut.

Sunday through Friday papers handled by 600 dealers and on sale in 1,000 boxes, with 750 carriers for Sunday home deliveries.

The day after its debut, the Calgary Sun took a day off for Alberta's Heritage Day holiday.

CalSun's 30th

Might have missed it, but an online search today for a Calgary Sun story marking the tabloid's 30th anniversary came up empty.

The only mention we found was congrats in a brief letter to the editor.

Not marking milestone anniversaries is par for the Quebecor course. Forget the past. Forget print media history.

We can only hope there will be fanfare for the Toronto Sun when it hits 40 on Nov. 1, 2011.

Not that the 40-year-old Toronto Sun will have any resemblance to the feisty pre-Quebecor paper.

Jays up front

Kudos to the Toronto Sun's sports department for moving Blue Jays baseball coverage out of the dungeon and into the front pages this week.

Page positioning should be seasonal. Having to sift through upfront stories about the NHL in the heat of summer and a lot of other sports before getting to the Jays never made sense.

Time for the Jays and the Argos to lead the way. It will be hockey time soon enough.

And by not burying the Jays on Page 22 or so, the Sun might help boost attendance at the games.

The Toronto Sun and the Jays reaped the benefits of dedicated baseball coverage from opening day in 1977 to the repeat World Series wins in 1992 and 1993.

Coverage of the Jays' World Series wins also boosted Sun sales to new heights.

But when was the last time the Jays were on the front page of the Sun?

CalSun at 30

The Calgary Sun turns 30 on Tuesday.

Will there be a party? Cake? Columns about how the paper was launched days after the Sun paid Lord Thomson less than a million for the Calgary Albertan, a rather sedate morning business tabloid?

Will those who helped launch the spirited Calgary Sun - Les Pyette, Tom MacMillan and Hartley Steward - be asked to recall those early days in a new Sun city? Bob Jelenic, the fourth man recruited for the job by Doug Creighton, is deceased.

Publisher Steward and editor-in-chief Pyette saw the Sun's newest tabloid to profitability before returning to the high-flying flagship Toronto Sun.

Calgary at 30 is a much different story than Calgary at 10 and 20, so chances are there will be little fanfare for the Big 3-0.

But at least the vets who saw the Calgary Sun through the 1980s and 1990s can applaud their efforts to make a difference.