Now (newspaper)

{{Short description|Canadian newspaper in Ontario}} {{For|publications with a similar title|Now (disambiguation){{!}}Now}} {{Infobox magazine | title = NOW | image_file = NOW Magazine Official Logo.png | image_size = | image_caption = | editor = Kerrisa Wilson | editor_title = | previous_editor = Michael Hollett (1981–2016) Kevin Ritchie (2016-2021) Radheyan Simonpillai (2021-2022) | staff_writer = Veracia Ankrah Camilla Bains Osobe Waberi | frequency = Weekly | total_circulation = print: 510,000 (weekly avg, November 2019)<ref name=sale>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/media-central-corporation-inc-acquires-toronto-s-iconic-weekly-alternative-news-and-entertainment-voice-now-magazine-869840487.html|title = Media Central Corporation Inc. Acquires Toronto's Iconic Weekly Alternative News and Entertainment Voice, NOW Magazine}}</ref> | category = Alternative weekly newspaper (1981-2022) Online news publication (1993-present) | company = Gonez Media | publisher = Michael Hollett (1981–2016) Alice Klein (2016–2019) Brian Kalish (2019–2020) Brandon Gonez (2023–present) | firstdate = {{start date|1981}} | country = Canada | based = | language = English | website = {{URL|https://nowtoronto.com}} | issn = 0712-1326 }}

'''''Now''''' (styled as '''''NOW'''''), also known as '''''NOW Magazine''''' is an online publication based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toronto's Now newspaper removed from city locations after poking fun at Mayor Rob Ford|first=Charlie|last=Smith|date=March 31, 2011|url=https://www.straight.com/article-384590/vancouver/toronto-now-removed-city-locations-after-poking-fun-mayor-rob-ford|work=Straight.com}}</ref> Through most of its existence, ''Now'' was a free alternative weekly newspaper. Physical publication of ''Now'' was suspended in August 2022, amid the bankruptcy of its former owner Media Central Corporation, although some new content was still published to its website. In January 2023, it was announced that the publication will be acquired by journalist Brandon Gonez.<ref>Connie Thiessen, [https://broadcastdialogue.com/brandon-gonez-startup-acquires-torontos-now-magazine/ "Brandon Gonez startup acquires Toronto's NOW Magazine"]. ''Broadcast Dialogue'', January 9, 2023.</ref>

==Publication history== ''Now'' was first published on September 10, 1981, by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein.<ref name="blogto.com">[https://www.blogto.com/city/2022/04/publisher-torontos-now-magazine-files-bankruptcy/ "Publisher of Toronto's iconic NOW Magazine files for bankruptcy."]. ''blogTO'', April 1, 2022.</ref> ''NOW'' is an alternative weekly that covers news, culture, arts, and entertainment. In its printed incarnation, ''NOW'' was published 52 times a year and could be picked up in Toronto subway stations, cafes, variety stores, clothing outlets, restaurants, alternative movie venues, and in its green and red newspaper boxes. ''NOW'' was published every Thursday for a period of over 40 years, from 1981 to 2022. In March 2022, NOW Magazine switched to monthly publication in an effort to save money. By August, the printed magazine was abandoned entirely.

''NOW'' has been online since 1993, first as now.com and then as nowtoronto.com since 2000.

It is also a central sponsor and its owners held an ownership stake in North by Northeast, a major annual music festival in Toronto.

''NOW'' was privately owned by Hollett and Klein until 2016, when Hollett sold his share of the company to Klein and left the newspaper to focus on North by Northeast as the festival's president and founder. Hollett became sole owner of NXNE when he sold his shares in NOW. Hollett started a new national music and arts print publication, NEXT Magazine, in 2020, publishing in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary,

In 2019, Klein's NOW Communications sold ''NOW'' to Media Central Corporation for $2 million. Klein remained with the newspaper as "Chief Editorial Strategist".<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/now-magazine-sold-two-million-1.5381007 "Startup media company to buy Now magazine for $2 million"]. CBC News Toronto, December 2, 2019.</ref><ref name=sale/> A few weeks later, Media Central Corporation also announced a deal to acquire the similar Vancouver publication ''The Georgia Straight''.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/georgia-straight-media-central-deal-1.5416101 "Georgia Straight sold to Media Central Corp. for $1.25M"]. CBC News British Columbia, January 6, 2020.</ref>

In April 2022, Media Central Corp Inc., of which NOW Central Communications Inc. is a subsidiary of, that owns and publishes NOW Magazine, filed for bankruptcy.<ref name="blogto.com"/><ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-now-magazine-publisher-media-central-corporation-inc-files-for/ "Now Magazine publisher Media Central Corporation Inc. files for bankruptcy"]. ''The Globe and Mail'', April 1, 2022.</ref> Soon afterward, several of its longtime staff members left, notably film critic Norman Wilner leaving to take a job as a programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival.<ref>[https://broadcastdialogue.com/revolving-door-102/ "Revolving Door"]. ''Broadcast Dialogue'', April 21, 2022.</ref>

In August, film critic and acting editor Radheyan Simonpillai stated on Twitter that the August 18 issue would be the publication's "last masthead"; in an interview on CBC's ''Metro Morning'' the following day, he clarified that the publication was not necessarily going out of business entirely, but would not be releasing print issues for the foreseeable future and many of its remaining staff were owed weeks of back pay.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-39-metro-morning/clip/15931456-is-lights-now-magazine-iconic-toronto-alt-weeklys-latest "Is it lights out for NOW Magazine? Iconic Toronto alt-weekly's latest issue might just be its last"]. ''Metro Morning'', August 18, 2022.</ref>

Following the 2023 acquisition by Gonez, it relaunched as a digital publication, including short-form video and social networking, seeing a 65 per cent increase in website readership in 2025. In 2026, Gonez announced plans to launch a local edition in Vancouver, as well as the national website ''Now Canada''.<ref>Connie Thiessen, [https://broadcastdialogue.com/gonez-media-to-expand-with-launch-of-now-canada-now-vancouver/ "Gonez Media to expand with launch of ‘Now Canada,’ ‘Now Vancouver’"]. ''Broadcast Dialogue'', April 23, 2026.</ref>

==Content== Syndicated content in ''NOW'' included Dan Savage's "Savage Love" sex advice column, Matt Groening's ''Life in Hell'' comic and Rob Brezsny's "Real Astrology". Notable writers and editors have included Matt Galloway, Naomi Klein, Cameron Bailey, [http://www.kimhughes.ca/ Kim Hughes], Susan G. Cole, Jon Kaplan, Adria Vasil, Glenn Sumi, Norman Wilner, Radheyan Simonpillai, Kevin Hegge, John Sewell and David Suzuki.<ref name="Toronto Mke'd Podcast">[https://www.torontomike.com/2022/04/michael-hollett-toronto-miked-podcast-episode-1031/ "Michael Hollett: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1031"]. April 11, 2022.</ref>

''NOW published several comprehensive guide issues every year. Some of these include: '' {{columns-list|colwidth=20em|*Love Your Body *The Best of Toronto Guide *The Binge Issue *The Hot Docs Film Festival Guide *The Hot Summer Guide *The Love & Sex Guide *The NYE Planner *The Patio Guide *The Restaurant Guide *The TIFF Issue *The Toronto Pride Guide *The Year In Review}}

In September 2021, Media Central Corporation announced that the company would be selling nine NFTs made from previous covers published by NOW Magazine and Georgia Straight. The NFTs are still listed as open for bidding.<ref name="dailyhive.com">[https://dailyhive.com/toronto/now-magazine-cuts-back-print-issues "Weekly rag goes monthly: NOW Magazine cuts back on print issues"]. Daily Hive Toronto, April 1, 2022.</ref>

In March 2022, NOW Magazine cut back on printing weekly issues in an effort to save money and grow its online audience.<ref name="dailyhive.com"/> In August, the printed magazine was abandoned entirely.

==Green efforts== Some of these efforts include the construction of the ''Green Roof'' in 2006. The roof helps to keep the building temperature regulated while using less energy which aids in keeping pollution low. The plant life, which is a sedum species, helps to purify the air. The green roof also reduces stormwater runoff – which can cause sewage backup during periods of deluge. ''NOW'' implements a 100% recycled paper policy and uses only vegetable-based dyes for print. This effort, each year, saves over 28,000 living trees, reduces greenhouse gases – the equivalent given off by 534 cars, eliminates 7 swimming pools of waste water and saves 79 garbage trucks worth of solid waste. ''Now'' also partners with Green Enterprise Toronto (GET) and Canopy (formerly Markets Initiative). Both companies are dedicated to responsible business and green initiatives.

''NOW'' is a certified B Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bcorporation.net/community/now-magazine|title=Certified B Corporation|date=December 2012|website=B Corporation}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|https://nowtoronto.com/}}

Category:Newspapers published in Toronto Category:Newspapers established in 1981 Category:Alternative weekly newspapers published in Canada Category:Weekly newspapers published in Ontario Category:1981 establishments in Ontario Category:Online newspapers with defunct print editions Category:Canadian news websites Category:Defunct weekly newspapers