Politics This Morning: Is there a future for ‘serious journalism’?
In an age of social and digital media, declining advertising revenues and easily accessible information, the fate of “serious journalism” has been “turned on its head,” says a new report published by the Public Policy Forum. “News organizations in financial trouble rarely devote resources to costly investigations or the kind of deep dive into an […]
Ailing Grit MP Bélanger gets turn in House Speaker’s chair, MPs cry
Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger got the chance last week to temporarily do the job he wanted before dropping out of the running last year after learning he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrigh’s disease. His House colleagues gave him the chance to be acting Speaker for about 30 minutes on Wednesday […]
Jolly good fellow Kennedy bids farewell to Ottawa Citizen
It was like a march of parliamentary reporters across Elgin Street and down Rideau Street into the Métropolitain Brasserie last Tuesday night as Hill journalists filed into the familiar bar to bid outgoing Ottawa Citizen Hill bureau chief Mark Kennedy farewell. Mr. Kennedy was one of a dozen Ottawa Citizen journalists who took a buyout in […]
Chronicle-Herald Hill bureau still going despite newsroom strike
The Halifax Chronicle Herald‘s Parliament Hill reporter is still filing stories because she’s not part of the union that includes 61 newsroom workers who have been on strike since late January. The Ottawa bureau consists of reporter Andrea Gunn. Because she is out of province, she is not included in the union or the contract negotiations, said Frank Campbell, […]
Media, MPs mingle at Maclean’s, Parliamentary Press Gallery receptions
To kick off last week’s social rotation around the Parliamentary Precinct, Party Central stopped by Maclean’s and L’Actualité’s “Welcome to the Hill” reception in the Château Laurier Ballroom on Tuesday, Feb. 23. As dozens of new MPs and veterans filled the room, there was some musing over what the invite-only party was all about. Typically, Maclean’s hosts an annual shindig to […]
‘Storm clouds coming’ for Postmedia, feds should ‘stop perpetuation of revenue model that does not serve journalism’
The House Heritage Committee’s study on Canadian media should include whether Postmedia Network’s debt-laden U.S. hedge fund-backed conglomerate is hurting the journalism industry with its cuts and newsroom mergers that don’t serve democracy, say MPs. MacEwan University communications professor Brian Gorman said the convergence of media ownership and the treatment of news properties as business […]
Traditional political campaigns dead, it’s a digital world now, say experts
Traditional political campaigns that don’t have a digital first focus are dead, say experts. “Where traditional campaigns spend weeks putting together high production value TV ads, a well run campaign of today and of the future is focused on short, snackable, mobile content. It’s focused on livestreaming video, it’s focused on digital rapid response, it’s […]
Hill Times finalist for four OCNA Better Newspaper Awards in 2015
The Hill Times is a finalist for four awards in this year’s Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Awards Competition, including best feature writing, best news story, cartoonist of the year, and best vertical product, or magazine. The OCNA recognizes “the outstanding quality of work produced each week” by member newspapers. Mark Burgess’ story, “Love, […]
Where’s Ezra when I need him?
TORONTO—It being Lent and all, I was canvassing Scripture and—bear with me here—I was reminded of Ezra Levant and his Rebels. Rona Ambrose may think she is the leader of the opposition, but she isn’t. Ezra is. As a lawyer, a political assistant, a magazine publisher, a newspaper columnist, a TV talk-show host, Ezra has […]
Guillon to leave Press Gallery, Lafrance steps in for now
Terry Guillon, the longtime chief of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, or the go-to guy between the Hill media and Parliament, is leaving his job this week and will be replaced on an acting basis by his deputy, Collin Lafrance, who has been the gallery’s manager. Mr. Guillon, 55, has been a fixture on the Hill as the […]
