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By Joseph Roberts, Publisher
Readers and advertisers appreciate fair and equitable journalism. This has been
the goal of Common Ground since its inception in 1982 when it became obvious that
conventional media was not giving voice to a significant segment of the population.
At that time, health, personal growth, spirituality, environment, organic food
and natural supplementation were either ridiculed or ignored. Today corporate
giants are responding to the success, growth and interest in these categories,
by jumping on the bandwagon to develop and market products that appeal to the
"cultural creative" or in simpler language, people who make their buying
decisions based on health, social justice and environmental sustainability.
Common Ground respects the rich diversity in society and publishs conflicting
opinions and beliefs. It is, in fact, healthy dialogue that encourages understanding
between differing groups. Because of this, Common Ground is actively hosting Conversation
Cafés and new columns like Organics, Ecological Explorer and Christian Community.
The magazine is redesigned into sections dedicated to Environment, Community,
Spirituality, Health and Fitness, Design for Living and Arts & Culture, for
your convenience. It is our goal to encourage understanding in a spirit of respectful
dialogue. How many of us actually take time out of our busy schedules to truly
listen to each other’s points of view?
Because it is important that advertisers and readers know for sure that the magazine
is widely distributed and well received, Common Ground began a CCAB/BPA (Canadian
Circulation Audit Bureau/Business of Performing Audits) audit one year ago. This
rigorous and thorough process is considered the Rolls Royce of magazine audits.
Glenn J. Hansen, BPA International president, praised Common Ground for "voluntarily
opening its records to independent verification and documentation of its circulation
data." He pointed out that "the audit facilitates the buying and selling
of advertising space. A BPA International consumer magazine audit provides advertisers
and agencies with assurance that the magazines they choose to invest in do in
fact reach target audiences." Hansen welcomed Common Ground Magazine aboard
CCAB/BPA, the largest non-profit media auditing organization in the world, with
over 2,600 member publications and 2,800 media buyers in 20 countries.
On behalf of everyone at Common Ground, I would like to thank our loyal readers,
distributors and advertisers, over the past 21 years, for helping us achieve circulation
verification that indicates, to date, Common Ground is the most widely read publication
of its kind in BC and Western Canada.
As publisher, I encourage your letters and emails commenting on various articles,
columns and advertisements, as this is the best way to tell us what you love and
hate. We respond to as many as possible and at times publish letters to the editor
sometimes in our favor and sometimes not. If you have any questions about the
CCAB/BPA circulation audit, feel free to call us for more information. I hope
you enjoy this month’s Common Ground.
Conversation Café
Update
Conversation Cafés are where friends and strangers meet to exchange ideas
and engage in lively conversation on interesting topics. Groups of six to eight
are formed, topics are agreed upon and the dialogue begins. Conversation Café
will be held every second Wednesday, 7:30 pm to 9pm at Cuppa Joe Coffee Bar, 3744
West 4th Avenue at Alma Street, Oct. 1, 15 & 19; Nov. 12 & 26. Our goal
is to establish Conversation Café throughout BC. You can host your own
Conversation Café in your neighborhood. Think globally, talk locally.
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