Michael Hollett
Encyclopedia
Michael Hollett is co-founder and co-owner of Toronto
's longest-running free alternative newsweekly, Now Magazine
and Now Communications Inc. He was also that magazine's first music editor.
Hollett was born in Oakville
, Ontario
to journalist
parents. While at York University
studying English
, Hollett became editor
of the university newspaper, Excalibur during the late 1970s.
Hollett went on to edit small-town newspapers throughout Ontario, including the Orangeville Citizen and the Caledon Citizen.
In 1981, Hollett co-founded Now with his partner Alice Klein
. The paper has remained independent ever since. Although a number of alternative weekly newspapers had been attempted in Toronto without success in the past, Now' s early decision to be distributed without charge proved to be crucial in its success.
The magazine also continues to reflect the editorial slant that Hollett brought to it.
In 1995, Hollett became a founder of the North by Northeast
(NXNE) music festival
.
In 2004, he provided the liner notes
for a greatest hits
CD release by the band Blue Rodeo
.
Since 2009, Hollett has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
(AAN).
Hollett remains involved in activities related to the magazine, its website, and its publishing arm. He continues to contribute articles, particularly on music. He also actively involved in moving Now forward with developing technologies such as iPad and iPhone apps, to ensure that NOW content is even more accessible to its current and growing readership.
Hollett resides in the Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale
. He is an avid hockey fan and player, and active with the Friends of Maple Leaf Gardens, an organization dedicated to the preservation
of the historic hockey arena in downtown Toronto.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's longest-running free alternative newsweekly, Now Magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
and Now Communications Inc. He was also that magazine's first music editor.
Hollett was born in Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
to journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
parents. While at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
studying English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
, Hollett became editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the university newspaper, Excalibur during the late 1970s.
Hollett went on to edit small-town newspapers throughout Ontario, including the Orangeville Citizen and the Caledon Citizen.
In 1981, Hollett co-founded Now with his partner Alice Klein
Alice Klein
Alice Klein is the co-founder, editor and CEO of Toronto, Canada's longest-running free alternative newsweekly, Now Magazine and Now Communications Inc....
. The paper has remained independent ever since. Although a number of alternative weekly newspapers had been attempted in Toronto without success in the past, Now
The magazine also continues to reflect the editorial slant that Hollett brought to it.
In 1995, Hollett became a founder of the North by Northeast
North by Northeast
North by Northeast is an annual five-day live music and film festival and music conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, held each June....
(NXNE) music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
.
In 2004, he provided the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
for a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
CD release by the band Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
.
Since 2009, Hollett has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
The Association of Alternative Newsmedia is a diverse group of covering every major metropolitan area and other less-populated regions of North America. AAN members have a combined weekly circulation of over 6.5 million as well as a print readership of nearly 17 million active, educated and...
(AAN).
Hollett remains involved in activities related to the magazine, its website, and its publishing arm. He continues to contribute articles, particularly on music. He also actively involved in moving Now forward with developing technologies such as iPad and iPhone apps, to ensure that NOW content is even more accessible to its current and growing readership.
Hollett resides in the Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale
Riverdale, Toronto
Riverdale is a large neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded by the Don River Valley to the west, Danforth Avenue and Greektown to the north, Jones Avenue, the CN/GO tracks, and Leslieville to the east, and Lake Shore Boulevard to the south....
. He is an avid hockey fan and player, and active with the Friends of Maple Leaf Gardens, an organization dedicated to the preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
of the historic hockey arena in downtown Toronto.
External links
- Now Magazine Everything Toronto.
- Micheal's Bio @ Now magazine
- NXNE Music Festival