PRESS RELEASE – February 22, 2008
The New RezX Magazine goes Digital with ‘Comeback’ Issue to be launched on AboriginalYouth.Net and delivered to FaceBook Users: Edmonton’s Shawn Bernard to Grace 1 of 2 Covers.
After a three-year hiatus and many delays, RezX Magazine is “Finally Ready to Return!” says its Publisher Chris Tyrone Ross. The highly anticipated come back issue will feature two limited edition covers; one being Edmonton’s own rap artist, Shawn Bernard AKA Feenix and the other to be revealed when its launched. For this special edition, RezX has partnered with Edmonton’s Liquid Trends, to release it online at AboriginalYouth.Net in mid-March, making RezX the first Aboriginal Youth magazine to go Digital. Even though Digital Mags are not quite new in the industry, it is still very new to Aboriginal media, making RezX the ‘first’ to fully embrace the Internet's capabilities (Social Networking sites, blogs, mass e-mails etc.) to launch an e-zine.
But you don’t have to wait until mid-March to get the issue. Starting on Friday, February 29th, members of RezX’s FaceBook Group (‘RezX - Magazine/Promotions’) will be the FIRST to receive the Comeback Edition two weeks before its official globally release, as the Digital version will be e-mailed directly to members and subscribers. To join the group just click the link; http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3234205057 Or you can wait for the ‘Official Global Launch’ on March 14th, when users can download it exclusively at AboriginalYouth.Net, the same day the website launches. A limited print edition is also expected for late March with a REZX MAGAZINE LAUNCH PARTY in the works.
“‘Finally'…is probably the best word to describe it” explained Ross, “we’ve finished all our photo shoots, writing, editing and just now wrapping up production, and I can tell you it’s the best work we’ve ever done as a magazine!”
RezX, which originally began in 2004 as Saskatchewan’s Aboriginal youth magazine, stopped printing in early 2005 due to new competition. But they didn’t stop there, they kept the brand name alive through their new music division, RezX Promotions hosting over 20 sold out events across Canada featuring Aboriginal music artists of all genres. So it is no surprise that The New RezX has been revamped as an Arts & Entertainment Magazine geared for a more mature audience of 18-34, but still Aboriginal Youth (under Government Standards).
Along with change, comes a new talented team as well. As mentioned earlier, RezX has partnered with Edmonton based Liquid Trends, which is owned by Ryan Janvier, who recently created the first Aboriginal Face Book Application, MyTribe. Some of RezX’s newest members include; Associate Editors Jonathon Potskin, who started Calgary’s first Aboriginal Youth Magazine, NEW TRIBE; and Shelley Collins, a very talented Metis writer and editor, who has contributed a great deal to the Come Back Edition. And finally the RezX News Team which includes Cowboy Smithx, a talented playwright, filmmaker and writer and Arsan Buffin, an alternative type photographer who did the Shawn Bernard cover shoot.
RezX founder, Chris Tyrone Ross, who started the first Aboriginal youth magazine in Canada, Gen-X (1997-2001) says, “It’s an Aboriginal youth team like no other!” But it’s what inside the magazine that will have people talking. The New RezX will feature Critical Aboriginal Music and Movie Reviews (where no one is safe), Digital Reviews, Features, Exclusive Interviews, Arts & Culture, Artist/Actor Profiles, Fashion and the latest inside scoops of the Entertainment Industry.
Although, Ross says the Arts & Entertainment factor is only there to make readers aware of the more important social issues covered like; urban life, careers, youth, politics, gang awareness, Identity and role models. Other regular sections will include Aboriginal Women of the Rise, Eye on the Media and Youth Issues. As mentioned earlier are the cover stories; Shawn Bernard AKA Feenix, a former gang member who turned his life around using hip hop as a way to reach Native Youth and another artist, whose cover will be revealed when the magazine is launched.
“The New RezX is not about pushing the envelope, selling sex, being controversial or going against the grain, it’s merely a reflection of the times,” explained Ross, “From the population growth of Aboriginal youth to Aboriginals migrating to the city dealing with rising rents and living expenses to reserve issues like welfare, high suicides rates and unemployment, it’s a very difficult time to be Aboriginal. But if you include how the digital age is changing everything through music, arts, film, modeling and new media then it’s an entirely different era all together, which makes it an exciting time too!”
With respect to the overall Aboriginal and mainstream media, RezX plans to offer a better alternative for young adults. According to the 2006 Census survey, the entire Aboriginal population increased by 42% in the last decade with 60% of that population now living in urban areas with the average age of Aboriginal people being 27. Those are numbers that reflect the magazine and numbers not to be ignored says RezX’s Associate Editor Shelley Collins, “There’s so much talent in the Aboriginal community, RezX is a great medium to help expose that talent in order to help inspire and motivate those of us who are still struggling to reach our goals and aspirations!”
Here’s how to get RezX’s Comeback Edition:
February 29 – FaceBook Release
March 14 – Global On-line Release @ AboriginalYouth.Net
March 28 – Print Release – BC/Alberta/Sask
March 29 – REZX MAG OFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY (Location TBA)
For more information contact RezX:
Chris Ross
Ph: 780.916.0241
E: rezxeditor@gmail.com
W: AboriginalYouth.Net
For Article Submissions Contact Shelley Collins:
Ph: 780.293.5018
E: rezxshelley@gmail.com
The New RezX Magazine goes Digital with ‘Comeback’ Issue to be launched on AboriginalYouth.Net and delivered to FaceBook Users: Edmonton’s Shawn Bernard to Grace 1 of 2 Covers.
After a three-year hiatus and many delays, RezX Magazine is “Finally Ready to Return!” says its Publisher Chris Tyrone Ross. The highly anticipated come back issue will feature two limited edition covers; one being Edmonton’s own rap artist, Shawn Bernard AKA Feenix and the other to be revealed when its launched. For this special edition, RezX has partnered with Edmonton’s Liquid Trends, to release it online at AboriginalYouth.Net in mid-March, making RezX the first Aboriginal Youth magazine to go Digital. Even though Digital Mags are not quite new in the industry, it is still very new to Aboriginal media, making RezX the ‘first’ to fully embrace the Internet's capabilities (Social Networking sites, blogs, mass e-mails etc.) to launch an e-zine.
But you don’t have to wait until mid-March to get the issue. Starting on Friday, February 29th, members of RezX’s FaceBook Group (‘RezX - Magazine/Promotions’) will be the FIRST to receive the Comeback Edition two weeks before its official globally release, as the Digital version will be e-mailed directly to members and subscribers. To join the group just click the link; http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3234205057 Or you can wait for the ‘Official Global Launch’ on March 14th, when users can download it exclusively at AboriginalYouth.Net, the same day the website launches. A limited print edition is also expected for late March with a REZX MAGAZINE LAUNCH PARTY in the works.
“‘Finally'…is probably the best word to describe it” explained Ross, “we’ve finished all our photo shoots, writing, editing and just now wrapping up production, and I can tell you it’s the best work we’ve ever done as a magazine!”
RezX, which originally began in 2004 as Saskatchewan’s Aboriginal youth magazine, stopped printing in early 2005 due to new competition. But they didn’t stop there, they kept the brand name alive through their new music division, RezX Promotions hosting over 20 sold out events across Canada featuring Aboriginal music artists of all genres. So it is no surprise that The New RezX has been revamped as an Arts & Entertainment Magazine geared for a more mature audience of 18-34, but still Aboriginal Youth (under Government Standards).
Along with change, comes a new talented team as well. As mentioned earlier, RezX has partnered with Edmonton based Liquid Trends, which is owned by Ryan Janvier, who recently created the first Aboriginal Face Book Application, MyTribe. Some of RezX’s newest members include; Associate Editors Jonathon Potskin, who started Calgary’s first Aboriginal Youth Magazine, NEW TRIBE; and Shelley Collins, a very talented Metis writer and editor, who has contributed a great deal to the Come Back Edition. And finally the RezX News Team which includes Cowboy Smithx, a talented playwright, filmmaker and writer and Arsan Buffin, an alternative type photographer who did the Shawn Bernard cover shoot.
RezX founder, Chris Tyrone Ross, who started the first Aboriginal youth magazine in Canada, Gen-X (1997-2001) says, “It’s an Aboriginal youth team like no other!” But it’s what inside the magazine that will have people talking. The New RezX will feature Critical Aboriginal Music and Movie Reviews (where no one is safe), Digital Reviews, Features, Exclusive Interviews, Arts & Culture, Artist/Actor Profiles, Fashion and the latest inside scoops of the Entertainment Industry.
Although, Ross says the Arts & Entertainment factor is only there to make readers aware of the more important social issues covered like; urban life, careers, youth, politics, gang awareness, Identity and role models. Other regular sections will include Aboriginal Women of the Rise, Eye on the Media and Youth Issues. As mentioned earlier are the cover stories; Shawn Bernard AKA Feenix, a former gang member who turned his life around using hip hop as a way to reach Native Youth and another artist, whose cover will be revealed when the magazine is launched.
“The New RezX is not about pushing the envelope, selling sex, being controversial or going against the grain, it’s merely a reflection of the times,” explained Ross, “From the population growth of Aboriginal youth to Aboriginals migrating to the city dealing with rising rents and living expenses to reserve issues like welfare, high suicides rates and unemployment, it’s a very difficult time to be Aboriginal. But if you include how the digital age is changing everything through music, arts, film, modeling and new media then it’s an entirely different era all together, which makes it an exciting time too!”
With respect to the overall Aboriginal and mainstream media, RezX plans to offer a better alternative for young adults. According to the 2006 Census survey, the entire Aboriginal population increased by 42% in the last decade with 60% of that population now living in urban areas with the average age of Aboriginal people being 27. Those are numbers that reflect the magazine and numbers not to be ignored says RezX’s Associate Editor Shelley Collins, “There’s so much talent in the Aboriginal community, RezX is a great medium to help expose that talent in order to help inspire and motivate those of us who are still struggling to reach our goals and aspirations!”
Here’s how to get RezX’s Comeback Edition:
February 29 – FaceBook Release
- Only members of the ‘RezX – Magazine/Promotions’ - Facebook Group will receive the ‘Comeback Edition’ FIRST before everyone else! Members receive a 1-year FREE subscription to the on-line edition, 15% off tickets to all RezX Events and chances to win monthly prizes from our sponsors. So if you’re a Facebook user, then click the link and join; http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3234205057
March 14 – Global On-line Release @ AboriginalYouth.Net
- With the launch of AboriginalYouth.Net, RezX will release its ‘Come Back Edition’ exclusively on this site. Only the first issue will be available for FREE to download via PDF or else have it delivered directly to your desktop as a subscriber.
March 28 – Print Release – BC/Alberta/Sask
- A special limited print edition will be released in the following cities; Edmonton, Alberta, Vancouver, BC and Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan. Subscriptions will also be available for reserves and rural areas.
March 29 – REZX MAG OFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY (Location TBA)
For more information contact RezX:
Chris Ross
Ph: 780.916.0241
E: rezxeditor@gmail.com
W: AboriginalYouth.Net
For Article Submissions Contact Shelley Collins:
Ph: 780.293.5018
E: rezxshelley@gmail.com