Press Advertising & Public Relations

THE MEDIA
THAT BUILDS
TRUST.

International press and earned media backed by senior expertise that most agencies cannot match — 12 years directing global publicity at Universal Pictures, plus roots in commercial radio. Canadian trade press, UK national press, US trade titles, plus campaign-led PR and influencer relations.

77%
Recall Rate for Print News Brand Ads
News Media Canada / RAMetrics
44%
Who Recall Digital News Brand Ads Act on Them
News Media Canada / RAMetrics
$1.4bn
Canadian News Media Advertising Revenue
News Media Canada, 2024
12yrs
Global Publicity Experience — Universal Pictures
Simplicity Media founding team

PRESS IS DECLINING.
TRUST IS NOT.

Canadian news media advertising revenue is under pressure across print. We are not going to pretend otherwise. Print is declining — but the trust and recall metrics that press advertising delivers remain among the strongest in any paid channel.

77% of people exposed to a print news brand ad recall it. 44% of those who recall a digital news brand ad act on it. These are not the metrics of a dead channel — they are the metrics of a channel that has contracted in volume but retained its quality. The audience that reads national press is older, more affluent and more likely to be in purchase and decision-making positions than the average social media user.

The right brief for press advertising is one where the audience profile, the editorial environment and the brand's credibility objectives align. When they do, press delivers something that paid digital frequently cannot: unquestioned legitimacy.

EARNED MEDIA
FROM PEOPLE WHO
UNDERSTAND IT.

Most media agencies that offer PR do so as an add-on — a capability acquired or bolted on to complete a service offering. Ours is different. The founding team's background includes 12 years as Director of Global Publicity at Universal Pictures — one of the world's largest entertainment studios — managing international press campaigns for major film releases across every significant media market.

That experience spans the full breadth of what effective publicity requires: editorial relationships, campaign narrative development, international media strategy, crisis communications and the ability to place a story in the right outlet at the right moment. It is not theoretical. It is the lived experience of managing brand reputation and media presence at genuine global scale.

We bring that experience to the campaigns we take on — whether that is a national press buy, a trade media strategy, a campaign-led PR push or earned media amplification alongside a paid campaign.

Founding Team Expertise

PUBLICITY EXPERIENCE
AT GLOBAL SCALE

The press and PR capability at Simplicity is built on a career that most agencies cannot replicate. Over a decade managing global publicity for one of the world's largest entertainment studios — with film releases, talent campaigns and brand initiatives spanning every major media market on earth.

Combined with roots in commercial broadcast radio — where brand, audience and editorial instinct were developed in a live, high-stakes environment — the founding team brings a depth of earned media understanding that is genuinely unusual in an independent media agency.

2000s
UK Commercial Radio — Broadcast production and audio brand identity at the UK's largest commercial radio networks. The foundation in audience, editorial and brand storytelling.
2006–09
Warner Bros. Entertainment — Publicity and promotions for one of the world's most recognised entertainment brands. The start of an international entertainment PR career.
2010–13
Premier PR — Account management across entertainment and media clients in London's competitive PR market. Building editorial relationships across UK national press and trade media.
2013–25
Universal Pictures — Director of Global Publicity — 12 years directing international publicity for major studio releases across global markets. Managing press campaigns, talent relations and brand narrative at the highest level of the entertainment industry.
What We Do

PRESS & PR
SERVICES

Trade & Specialist Media
B2B · Industry · Sector-Specific

Trade press advertising reaches professional audiences in a context of active category interest — something that broad consumer media cannot replicate. We plan across trade titles in any sector, identifying the publications that reach decision-makers and buyers at the moment they are most receptive. Particularly effective for B2B brands and specialist consumer categories.

Campaign-Led PR Strategy
Earned Media · Campaign Amplification · Launch PR

PR strategy built around the campaign objective — not a retainer model where activity fills time regardless of outcome. We develop earned media strategy as a complement to paid campaigns, identifying the story that deserves coverage, the titles that should carry it, and the timing that maximises impact. Campaign launches, product announcements and brand moments.

Entertainment & Film PR
Studio · Distribution · Talent · Release Campaigns

A genuine specialism — not a claimed one. With 12 years directing global publicity at Universal Pictures, we understand how entertainment PR campaigns are built, what media relationships matter, and how to time and sequence coverage for maximum release impact. Available to studios, distributors, production companies and entertainment brands.

Regional & Local Press
Regional Newsbrands · Local Titles · Community Media

Regional press reaches specific geographic communities with a depth of local relevance that national media cannot match. Particularly effective for retail, hospitality, events and any brand with a local or regional footprint. We plan regional press buys with the same rigour as national campaigns — audience profiling, rate negotiation and placement coordination across titles.

Magazine & Lifestyle Media
Consumer Magazines · Luxury · Fashion · Lifestyle

Magazine advertising delivers brand association with premium editorial content in a high-attention, low-distraction environment. Readers engage with magazine content at a depth and pace that digital media rarely achieves. We plan magazine campaigns for brands where editorial adjacency, brand environment and production quality are part of the strategic objective.

PRESS ADVERTISING —
WHAT THE DATA SAYS

77%

Of people exposed to an ad in a printed news brand recall it — one of the highest recall rates of any advertising medium. Only TV has a higher recall rate among traditional channels.

Source: News Media Canada / RAMetrics
44%

Of people who recall a digital news brand ad go on to act on it — visiting a website, making a purchase, or taking another direct response action.

Source: News Media Canada / RAMetrics
$1.4B

Canadian news media advertising revenue in 2024. A market under pressure from digital, but one that retains a concentrated, premium audience that is older, more affluent and harder to reach through programmatic channels alone.

Source: News Media Canada, 2024
14M+

Canadians who read a newspaper — print or digital — every week. News media audiences skew higher income, higher education and higher engagement than average Canadian internet users, making them a premium advertising environment.

Source: Vividata, 2024
Where We Buy

TITLES ACROSS
EVERY CATEGORY

National Titles
The Globe and Mail
National Post
Toronto Star
Toronto Sun
Canada's National Observer
Regional & Market Titles
Vancouver Sun & Province
Calgary Herald
Edmonton Journal
Ottawa Citizen
Winnipeg Free Press
Lifestyle & Magazines
Weekend newspaper supplements
Canadian lifestyle titles
Sector-specific consumer magazines
Luxury and premium titles
Trade & Specialist
Industry-specific trade titles
Professional journals
Sector B2B publications
Regional and community newsbrands
Digital Canadian news environments
Our Process

HOW A SIMPLICITY
PRESS CAMPAIGN WORKS

01
Strategy & Media Selection
We start with the objective — is this a national brand moment, a product launch, a regional drive-to-store, or a B2B trade play? The answer determines the media. We recommend titles based on audience data (Vividata, AAM), rate efficiency, and editorial context — not volume targets or rate card relationships. We plan press as part of an integrated media strategy, identifying where it adds genuine audience value rather than prestige for its own sake.
02
Negotiation & Booking
We negotiate directly with media owners — The Globe and Mail, National Post, Postmedia titles, regional newsbrands, UK nationals and US trade titles where relevant. Direct relationships mean genuine rate leverage: negotiated rates, premium placement positioning and added value that rate card buyers don't access. We handle all booking, creative specifications, material deadlines, insertion orders and proof-of-publication. You see the plan; we manage the detail.
03
PR & Earned Media
Where the campaign includes a PR component, we develop the earned media strategy in parallel with the paid plan — identifying the story, the titles it belongs in, and the timing that maximises coverage impact. Our 12 years directing global publicity at Universal Pictures means we understand how editorial relationships work, what makes a story placeable, and how to sequence press coverage to build momentum. We don't pitch blind; we pitch the right story to the right journalist at the right moment.
Common Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Does press advertising still work in Canada?
Yes. Canadian news media audiences remain large and valuable, particularly for brands seeking credibility, reach among 35+ audiences, and contextual alignment with trusted content. Research shows that news media advertising delivers strong brand recall — 77% of readers recall seeing ads in news environments — and drives purchase consideration. Print and digital news together command significant reach among higher-income, decision-making Canadian adults.
What Canadian newspapers and news titles are available for advertising?
Canada has a rich national and regional press landscape. National titles include The Globe and Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star. Major regional papers include Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, and Winnipeg Free Press. Digital news titles, niche trade publications, and community papers further extend reach. We plan across both print and digital news inventory to match your audience and objectives.
How much does newspaper advertising cost in Canada?
Press advertising costs vary significantly by title, format, and placement. A full-page national broadsheet can run from $15,000–$50,000+ CAD. Regional newspaper ads start from a few thousand dollars. Digital display on Canadian news sites typically ranges from $10–$25 CPM. Most mid-market press campaigns run $5,000–$30,000 CAD depending on breadth and frequency. We negotiate rates across the full Canadian news media landscape and recommend placements based on audience match and editorial context.
What is the difference between press advertising and PR in Canada?
Press advertising is paid placement — you buy space in a publication and control the message. PR (public relations) is earned coverage — building relationships with journalists and editors to generate editorial mentions, reviews, and features. Advertising delivers controlled, consistent brand messaging; PR delivers third-party credibility. We offer both, and help brands understand when each approach delivers the best return for their specific goals.
Can press advertising work alongside digital campaigns in Canada?
Yes — and it performs better when it does. Press advertising is most effective as part of an integrated campaign where it reinforces messaging from digital, social, and broadcast channels. News brand environments add credibility and trust that digital formats alone cannot replicate. Audiences who see a brand in both press and digital are significantly more likely to take action than those who see digital alone. We plan press as part of a broader media strategy, not as a standalone channel.

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