Managing Editor George Kalogerakis leads a conversation about the future of daily journalism, key investigations underway in Montreal, and a scarcity of media talent at the University Club next Wednesday, January 20 from 5 until 7.
Since its birth in the 1960s, Le Journal de Montréal has focussed almost exclusively on the three S’s – sex, sport and sang (blood)! But the populist tabloid has changed dramatically in the past 15 years. It still wants to be the ‘people’s paper,’ but now puts more emphasis on investigations and uncovering government waste.
Le Journal set up a sting operation to catch pedophiles targeting pre-teens on the Web, a first in Quebec. It tested 200 sushi shops and fish stores to show retailers selling fish under incorrect names. It described how a Quebec family manipulated multiple contests across Canada to win them all.
Mr. Kalogerakis, who was hired away from the Gazette in 2005, will describe these investigations in detail. He’ll also talk about how Le Journal still sees a vibrant future in print. Despite tough times in the media business, the paper’s looking for people with the ‘guts’ and ‘brains’ to look into corruption and crime on the heels of the revelations of the Charbonneau Commission.
Ask me for an invitation to this event if you want to attend.
