By Andrew Macdonald
The Macdonald Notebook, the widely read and popular weekend media outlet, celebrated a milestone this March.
We launched as a fledgling media enterprise on March 17, 2017, and are now are preparing to mark our eighth year as a strong independent media outlet.
That’s all because of your readership patronage. Many, many thanks!
The Macdonald Notebook reaches sophisticated and often well-heeled readers in Nova Scotia, particularly in Halifax, and we have a strong readership on the South Shore, Antigonish and Cape Breton. We have a lot of readers in Truro, too.
Our website has writers in Lunenburg as well as three other writers in Metro Halifax.
The total IP unique visits to our website, break down like this:
Nov. 17 – Dec. 17, 2023 = 16,165
Dec. 17, 2023 – Jan. 17, 2024 = 17,874
Jan. 17 – Feb. 17, 2024 = 17,993
Those figures are paid and unpaid readership. What we offer is a paid readership of circa 2,000 people, the ‘movers & shakers’ in business and politics.
Priced at an affordable $3.50 per week, and with breaking stories in our regular editions on Saturday and Sunday, a subscription to The Macdonald Notebook supports our independent media website.
If you like to read news scoops and other exclusive news reports on the business and political life of Halifax and Nova Scotia, we have you covered.
My Notebook writing team offers old-fashioned reporting that does not rely on press releases. Instead, we rely on well-placed sources across the region, so we get the story first, stories not seen in other media outlets!
Check out the reader endorsements later in this article.
If you are an advertiser, note that we have a well-heeled audience reaching all age groups in society, with members of the business and political worlds tuning into our news scoops.
Advertisers can reach a cross-section of age categories in The Macdonald Notebook.
Who reads us? Using my readership measurement of Google Analytics, I am able to detail the ages of thousands of readers, up to 2,000 readers per week.
The largest readership age category is from 45 to 55, and my second largest age category is from 25 to 35! Who says millennials, or 20-something and 30-something folk don’t read or pay for news!
I am not surprised that Google Analytics tells me I have a robust audience of 20- and 30-somethings, but our reach includes robust support from all age groups in our society.
The Macdonald Notebook is published on Saturdays and Sundays. Each weekend, we generate thousands of visits to our popular journalism website that looks at Inside Politics, Business, and Cultural Affairs.
Notebook advertiser endorsements:
“Andrew, I feel we are so fortunate to have your publication to read each week as you provide us with up-to-date, unbiased, honest and fair journalism that speaks to the key topics of the day whether in business, politics, real estate, or philanthropy in our region. Your publication has become a “must-read” for me to stay current on what is happening in our beautiful part of the world!” — Donna Harding, Partner, Engel & Völkers Halifax/NS
“Andrew is quintessentially Nova Scotian. He is a tough but fair reporter, and he cares about his readers. His columns are always insightful, and with him, you always get insight that you don’t in any other business reporting in the province.” — Mark Boudreau, former director of Corporate Affairs, Loblaw Halifax:
“Andrew is a very fine writer and has oodles of information on the local real estate scene. He is probably the most tapped-in person in this part of the world.” — Chester-Halifax realtor Piers Baker.
“Andrew Macdonald has encompassed ‘niche journalism’ and runs down the track with it, thoroughly crossing the finish line with each report. He leaves no stone unturned and no question unanswered. Factual, compelling reporting. A joyful read.” — Gregg Keating, chairman of Keating Group of Companies.
If you want my Notebook advertising rate card, send me an email message to Andrew@TheMacdonaldNotebook.ca
Following are some reader endorsements:
“The movers and shakers read you, Andrew.” — Erin O’Toole, former federal Conservative leader
“The Macdonald Notebook provides much-needed original reporting with a strong mix of business and political coverage. It has become a must-read in the media landscape, and I learn something from every edition. Continued success!”— Alex Whalen, senior economist with the Fraser Institute, which in 2019 merged with AIMS
“Anyone interested in good reporting about what is happening in Nova Scotia might want to read The Macdonald Notebook, which is published on Saturdays & Sundays.” — Don Mills, Atlantic and Halifax pollster
“In this day of selective political reporting in the regular media, the online The Macdonald Notebook has evolved as the leading news outlet for anyone with a keen interest on what is really going on regarding the major political and economic issues of the day in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes. Give The Macdonald Notebook a try, you will not be disappointed.” — Former Dartmouth South MLA and Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Tim Olive
“I do very much enjoy reading your in-depth coverage of so many varied topics. Glad you called me that day for info so I could subscribe once again! Love to read your news the minute your reports come out. Amazing the knowledge you glean!” — Halifax realtor Carolyn Davis-Stewart
“I am really enjoying your Macdonald Notebook. You have not only captured an audience of followers, but you also have the experience of years behind you to dig out your contacts. So keep up the interesting news items.” — Billy Joe MacLean, longtime Port Hawkesbury politico
“The Macdonald Notebook provides the colour between the lines that allows news to become information. In a time when too many media organizations essentially reprint press releases, Andrew has personal conversations with the newsmakers. Not satisfied with simply the ‘what’, The Notebook goes further, to enlighten on the ‘why’.” — Layton Dorey, senior VP at Northstar Research Partners
“Your political coverage is awesome for political junkies like me. Good on you and kudos for excellence. You have a way of explaining things so that readers understand that those involved in partisan politics are human just like everyone else.” — John MacDonell, a powerful backroom operator in the Harper regime in Ottawa.
“Your well-crafted journalism style is ‘down-home, high quality’ reporting, concise, informative, diverse, historically accurate, objective, humorous and pleasantly intimate.” — Former John Savage minister Robbie Harrison
“I have been reading Andrew’s stories for 20 years. I am always curious to see what he is going to write about and he is very curious himself but honest. He is passionate about journalism and above all he is trustworthy. We live in a very small, tight-knit community. Media has a big impact on our lives and it helps to talk to a journalist you can trust and that’s Andrew Macdonald. He is experienced, his stories are fair, balanced and very professional. That’s what good journalism is all about!” — Halifax real estate developer Wadih Fares
“Nova Scotia’s political publication.” — Former Nova Scotia PC leadership contender John Lohr
“Andrew, you are doing a good job and staying relevant, that is for sure. You have a unique flair to your writing. I think the Halifax community is now used to it, and I think everyone is quite fond of it, to tell you the truth.” — Property developer Maurice Fares
“The Macdonald Notebook nails it, every edition, every time. Andrew, you’re a great storyteller and journalist of hard facts and informative well-researched news. I am happy to continue to support and promote your great leading-edge news and The Notebook. I look forward to your great coverage. Congrats.” — Robert Zed, chair, Triangle Strategies
“Keep up the good journalism work, very impressive.” — Tim Moore, Chester-Halifax serial entrepreneur:
“I really appreciate your local storytelling and very insightful journalism. Nova Scotia (and the Maritimes) are lucky to have you”. — Dr. Kent MacDonald, former St. FX president
These are some of the many reader endorsements forThe Macdonald Notebook.
Again, For my advertising rates, email me atAndrew@TheMacdonaldNotebook.ca
For my subscription button page on The Macdonald Notebook’s website, click here to take out a subscription.
