Thesis research on Canadian Living

[LMack]

Hi! My name is Laurie Mackenzie. I’m a master of journalism student at Carleton University in Ottawa. I am conducting research for my thesis, which is about service journalism, and my case study is the parenting section of Canadian Living. I’m posting research questions on this forum because I’m interested in hearing from readers. This is completely voluntary and anonymous; I will only include your comments in my thesis. Please reply to this posting with your answers to the questions below, and please spread the word!

• How do you put the parenting advice you read in Canadian Living into action in your own life? Please provide an example of parenting advice you have used.

• Why were you drawn to try this piece of advice on parenting? Why did you think it might be useful to you?

• Generally speaking, what other sources do you go to for parenting advice (for example, your own parents, siblings, friends, books, other magazines)? Where does a magazine such as Canadian Living fit into your “parenting tool box”?

• How long have you been a reader of Canadian Living? Generally speaking, how useful and useable is the parenting advice? What about other advice in the magazine?

[InkiePinkie]

Hi Lauren,
I've moved your post to the Family and Parenting section of the Forums. Hopefully you will get some more replies there.
Good luck with your research!

[sue dieter]

I like the parenting practical suggestions and advice. To me the more practical, the better, as then I can take one idea at a time and apply it. The response I got to the question on bullying for example was a big help to me, as it helped know the difference between what is bullying and the changes kids go to, and the different strategies I can follow in communicating with my kids. That's one in many examples. Another practical advice I appreciated was about ways to get your child to listen more.

So to answer the second question is the practicality in presenting different tips, strategies that draws me to the articles. They are positive and different and it doesnt hurt to try them. They may not all work but for sure one or 2 would. And more than anything, that practicality comes from people who have tried it and are passing their experience. And if we can learn from others positive experience, the better.

I read on parenting once or twice a week. I'd like to have some focused time to read on the subject so I can take time to think proactive ways in caring for my children. I also talk with friends. I learn from attending the Parents association. I'd say Canadaliving has become one of the most feequented sites from many other sources I read.

The name Canada Living got my attention with my yahoo.ca. During that time my husband was in Canada and I was overseas, on my way to join him along with our kids. Somehow the name attracted me and I felt what better way to learn about Canada and everything about it from a site calling itself Canada Living, since Im going to live there. I think I got on in 2008 and well, Im still here. It did help me in my transition and I do enjoy it. I havent used everything in the site and I would if I got all the time. thats why I often focus on the parenting and everything related to it as I found it useful and useable, ha! I may be prejudiced since I just happen to come across it, and since then I didn't bother to look other sites, or may be because I felt it did answer many things in it. In my search, I end up gravitating back to Canada Living.

Well, I hope this is a help to your thesis.