J-Source

Sun News denies Duffy lobbied CRTC for mandatory carriage; network hires former CRTC commissioner

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:27:40 +0000

Sun News Network says Conservative senator Mike Duffy did not lobby the CRTC on its behalf for mandatory carriage, the National Post reported.

“He’s not doing anything for us, formally or informally,” Teneycke told the Post. “I don’t know how much more explicit I can be than that.”

Opinion: Crackgate - Star's rush to publish alleged Rob Ford crack-cocaine story unsatisfactory

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:45:17 +0000

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John Gordon Miller writes the Star skirted around the edges of these editorial principles by rushing into print, without anything but a last-minute attempt to get Ford and his people to tell their side of the story.

By John Gordon Miller

The Province launched crowd-funding campaign for alleged Rob Ford crack-cocaine video

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Several crowd-funding campaigns have cropped up to see the now infamous video that allegedly shows Toronto mayor Rob Ford, including one by Vancouver tabloid The Province.

John Gordon Miller, a former senior editor for the Toronto Star, wrote a scathing column on his blog taking to task newspaper’s editors in choosing to run the story. He was, however, far more critical of The Province’s “bonehead” decision to crowd fund for the video.

Opinion: Rob Ford stole the show on a frenzied news night

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:38:20 +0000

Shocking news is hard to believe. Last night, there was lots of news, plenty of it shocking. The sun was setting on another day, literally, when newsrooms tore up their front pages and started from scratch, writes Nick Taylor-Vaisey.

By Nick Taylor-Vaisey, for Maclean's

Opinion: The National Newspaper Awards don't reflect journalism in the digital era

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:10:50 +0000

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It is dinosaur thinking to consider yourself a newspaper, writes Melanie Coulson. You are a news organization, committing fantastic acts of journalism online, on tablets, on smartphones and social media. The inky print product is but one platform. The NNAs, sadly, don’t recognize this.

By Melanie Coulson

Gird yourself, I’m about to attack a Canadian journalism institution: The National Newspaper Awards.

It has taken me a couple of weeks to write this post. No, scratch that. This has been years in the making.

The Gawker-Toronto Star cat fight about the Rob Ford "exclusive"

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:55:36 +0000

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Last night, Gawker posted a video for sale allegedly starring Toronto mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The video became the subject of a frenzied discussion on Twitter, with many cautioning about libel laws. And then started the hilarious cat fight on Twitter about who got the "exclusive." Gawker appears to have forced the Toronto Star into publishing the story on the video that they had been sitting on for almost two weeks. Reporters Kevin Donovan and Robyn Doolittle apparently saw the alleged video on May 3, but were doing due diligence, one can suppose.

B.C. polling gaffe a blessing for journalism

Tamara Baluja — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:19:54 +0000

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Far too often, news organizations focus on the horse race between the parties or the leaders. The endless barrage of who is ahead or behind drowns out a lot of other coverage. Innovation editor Rob Washburn writes that these polling gaffes are an excellent reminder to focus on issues and analysis when it comes to election coverage instead of using the crutch of polls endlessly.

By Rob Washburn, J-Source Innovation editor

There are a lot of pollsters pacing the floor in office towers across British Columbia after an abysmal performance predicting election results Tuesday night

But what is bad for the polling business may be good for journalism. The results of the provincial election in British Columbia has pollsters scratching their collective heads as the Liberals won handily over the NDP.

Windsor U student newspaper will cut 5 positions, reduce staff salaries

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:31:53 +0000

The Lance will be cutting at least five staff positions and will reduce the salaries of remaining staff following a new budget approved by the University of Windsor Student Alliance last week.

CBC Newfoundland and Labrador wins 8 gold awards at Atlantic Journalism Awards

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:56:36 +0000

CBC Newfoundland and Labrador swept the Atlantic Journalism Awards, picking up 8 gold awards including best multimedia feature, breaking news on radio and online news reporting. Here is the complete list of winners and finalists, according to the press release.

Online News Reporting

Gold: Newsroom - CBC News - St. John's, NL - Tropical Storm Leslie.

New anchor at Global Montreal News Final; BBM numbers show Morning Show struggling

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:44:18 +0000

Elysia Bryan-Baynes has been named the new anchor of Global Montreal News Final show. She takes over from Richard Dagenais, who now hosts the network’s morning show.

Big congrats to @ebbaynes, named anchor for nightly 11pm News Final on @global_montreal. A great journalist committed to her community.

La Presse reporter Laura-Julie Perreault named Martin Wise Goodman Nieman Fellow

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:09:38 +0000

La Presse reporter Laura-Julie Perreault has been named the Martin Wise Goodman Canadian Nieman Fellow.

Perreault will join 11 other foreign journalists and 12 American journalists as Nieman Fellows at Harvard University. She plans to issues facing women combatants as well as state building and democratization in post-dictatorial states.. The fellowship provides a stipend for living expenses and tuitions fees at Harvard University for a year.

Ray Guy: a fan’s farewell

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:58:01 +0000

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Ray Guy died suddenly on Tuesday, aged 74, from cancer. He wrote about life and politics in Newfoundland and Labrador, won a National Newspaper Award, a Leacock Award, membership in the Canadian News Hall of Fame, and an honorary degree from Memorial University. The honours marked not just the role of his biting St. John's Evening Telegram newspaper columns of the 1960s and early 70s in bringing down the autocratic regime of Premier Joey Smallwood , but also his part in defining Newfoundland culture as we know it today, writes Susan Newhook.

Photo courtesy of Greg Locke

By Susan Newhook

A tiny preface: King's journalism grad and St. John's Telegram reporter Daniel McEachern (@TelegramDaniel) tweeted on Wednesday:

Windsor Star moves into new building, invites readers into newsroom

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:37:48 +0000

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The Windsor Star has moved into swanky new digs, made its first foray into outdoor advertising, and opened a news café that executives hope will spark more reader interaction with the newsroom. These new ventures at the Star are a departure from the recent gloomy headlines coming from the newspaper’s parent company Postmedia Network, from staff buyouts to profits nose diving. Editor-in-chief Marty Beneteau sat down for a lengthy Q&A over the phone with J-Source.

By Tamara Baluja

Review: A Thousand Farewells: A Reporter’s Journey from Refugee Camp to the Arab Spring

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:05:49 +0000

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Two years after covering the Arab Spring, CBC reporter Nahlah Ayed's memoir has been released in paperback with a new epilogue chronicling the civil war in Syria and her return to Tahrir Square. A Thousand Farewells offers a valuable perspective for journalists.

Two years after covering the Arab Spring, CBC reporter Nahlah Ayed's memoir has been released in paperback with a new epilogue chronicling the civil war in Syria and her return to Tahrir Square. A Thousand Farewells offers a valuable perspective for journalists.

Readers attack: How and why journalists should respond to online comments

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:48:18 +0000

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For the large, silent majority of readers turned off by comments sections, the solution is simple: stop reading them. But for journalists, who are frequently themselves the subjects of discussion, and who are increasingly being pressured to moderate and participate in online discussions, ignoring the problem just isn’t an option anymore.

By Davida Ander, for the Ryerson Review of Journalism

“What’s your problem?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s an unemployed welfare bum.”

“Grow up.”

“Once you are done you may fornicate yourself.”

“You just antagonize people to get people to react, dude. It’s what you do! You have serious issues!”

Job posting: Journalism instructors at Langara College

Tamara Baluja — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:58:53 +0000

Depending on funding and other considerations, the Langara College Journalism Department is seeking instructors to fill positions ranging from a single specialty topic to half-time, three-quarter-time or full-time teaching load beginning September 2013.

Peter Worthington: 10 facts about the journalist who wrote his own obituary

Tamara Baluja — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:33:38 +0000

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Peter Worthington, co-founder of the Toronto Sun and a four-time National Newspaper Award winner, died Monday. Worthington wrote in his obituary that he realized “for journalists, reconnaissance can be valuable, and that it’s better to be lucky than good.” J-Source takes a look at the man behind the legend, as he describes himself in his own words.

By Tamara Baluja

“Looking for trouble.”
“The bravest journalist in this business.”
“An editorial scion.”
“A real end of an era.”

Opinion: Why all journalists should study public relations

Tamara Baluja — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:50:52 +0000

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Most journalism schools don’t like to talk to their students about public relations. They teach them nothing about PR history, theory, ethics and practice. It’s as if they believe that by teaching them about the “dark side” they will somehow be made impure. Journalism professor Ira Basen writes this lack of knowledge about PR does a real disservice to journalists.

By Ira Basen, J-Source Future of News editor

Paywalls rolled out across all Postmedia newspapers

Tamara Baluja — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:33:50 +0000

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Postmedia Network rolled out online paywalls on all 10 of its dailies Tuesday, following a two-year pilot project. Readers will be introduced to the paywalls with an advertising campaign, including full-page wraps on all Postmedia newspapers and TV spots starting this week, the company announced in a press release.

Postmedia Network rolled out online paywalls on all 10 of its dailies Tuesday, following a two-year pilot project.

The metered paywall will allow print subscribers unlimited access to their newspaper’s website. Canadian users without a print subscription will be able to access 10 free articles monthly while international readers can access five free articles.

UPDATED: Chronicle Herald misspells its own name in article about winning Atlantic Journalism Awards

Tamara Baluja — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:56:26 +0000

The Chronicle Herald, which won six gold Atlantic Journalism Awards, misspelled its own name in an article celebrating its accomplishments. Check out the image, courtesy of Craig Silverman at Poynter.

Publisher Doug Kelly leaving National Post

Tamara Baluja — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:47:07 +0000

Doug Kelly, the publisher of the National Post is leaving the newspaper at the end of May, the Canadian Press reports.

Opinion: The Globe and Mail murky on how its error ridden pro-BC Liberal editorial was crafted

Tamara Baluja — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:01:13 +0000

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With several mistaken facts in The Globe and Mail editorial endorsing Christy Clark for premier, David Beers writes the editorial will do little to change the views of any British Columbians who resent that so much of the province's major media is owned and run outside the province.

By David Beers, for The Tyee

Toronto Sun co-founder Peter Worthington dies in Toronto

Janice Neil — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:37:50 +0000

Peter Worthington died around midnight last night in a Toronto hospital but apparently we'll be able to see the last article he wrote - his own obituary - in tomorrow's edition of the 'The Little Newspaper That Grew' that he help start in 1971.

French investigative news site unique

Robert Washburn — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:44:22 +0000

While many newspapers face a fiscal crisis, Mediapart is making money as a hardhitting, investigative publication online. It is earning a reputation for holding French politicians and government accountable, while generating revenue from a subscriber-only revenue model. Freelance reporter Pierre Chauvin gives a snapshot of this rising journalism star in Europe.

‪By Pierre Chauvin

‪Mediapart is rare publication because it publishes exclusively online, focusing on investigative journalism. It also has a paywall and doesn’t rely on traditional advertising.

But, where this French news company is most unique is that it is profitable when so many others are struggling to make money.

"When the public broadcaster is in peril" - An excerpt from Wade Rowland's book Saving the CBC

Tamara Baluja — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:55:36 +0000

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"As “the mother corp” faces the potential loss of broadcast rights for Hockey Night in Canada, veteran broadcaster and media strategist Wade Rowland argues we have less than two years to find a way to save CBC/Radio-Canada: the cornerstone of Canadian culture and an institution many regard as the glue that holds the country together." Read an excerpt from his new book Saving the CBC: Balancing Profit and Public Service.