2016-2017 Year in Review

Is Fake News the New Propaganda? June 13, 2017 – Toronto Reference Library, Toronto

In conjunction with the Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Star, as part of the Star Talks and CJF J-Talks series. Tim Wu, law professor at Columbia University and author who coined the phrase "net neutrality", and Mathew Ingram, senior writer for Fortune magazine, discuss the blight of fake news with moderator Kathy English,

public editor of the Toronto Star.

The Media As Opposition: Covering Trump in a Post-Truth Era May 24, 2017 – Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto

They are among the world’s most unrelenting truth seekers. In their first live joint appearance, these renowned, award-winning journalists and authors discussed the pressing need to apply constant, critical pressure on an American president who threatens the very fabric of democracy, journalism, civil society and the truth. In this two-part Toronto event, our first discussion featured Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of Democracy Now!; Juan González, co-host of Democracy Now!; Glenn Greenwald, Pulitzer-prize winner and co-founder of The Intercept; Jeremy Scahill, war correspondent and co-founder of The Intercept, and Vicky Mochama, national columnist with Metro News. Their conversation was be moderated by Hannah Sung, video and podcast producer for The Globe and Mail. The second discussion featured Matt Taibbi, author of the recently published Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus and contributing editor to Rolling Stone, in conversation with David Walmsley, editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail, on journalism’s response to this ongoing circus and chaotic presidency.

What To Be, or Not To Be: The Public Broadcaster’s Dilemma April 20, 2017 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

In an increasingly fractured, crowded and competitive media environment, what is the role of the public broadcaster when it comes to news? How to attract a new generation of audiences and retain existing ones? What experiments bode well for the future of news? This discussion explored the challenges faced by public broadcasters on both sides of the pond, featuring James Harding, director of news and current affairs for the BBC; Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News; and Michael Oreskes, senior vice-president

of news and editorial director for NPR, in a conversation moderated by Simon Houpt, senior media writer with The Globe and Mail.

CJF J-Talks. Journalism matters.

No Safe Space: Harassment of Women in Media March 7, 2017 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

It is not just Internet trolls. These days, it is often not safe for women to speak up anywhere - online, on air and in print. What can be done about the barrage of intimidation, threats, and abusive comments that seem determined to silence our voices? In the lead up to International Women’s Day, we tackled online harassment against women in media. Manisha Krishnan, senior writer for VICE Canada; Heather Mallick, columnist with the Toronto Star; and Janet McFarland, business reporter

with The Globe and Mail, discuss the hazards of being a female journalist online and the policies and resources that can help make newsrooms and online communities welcoming to all. This discussion was moderated by Piya Chattopadhyay, host of CBC Radio’s Out in the Open.

Changing the Face of Media February 22, 2017, TD Bank Tower, Toronto

Each in their own way and some with greater force than others, these journalists are pushing for a greater diversity of stories and voices across media—both to reflect the greater community and to effect change within it: Desmond Cole, the journalist who shared his personal account of being stopped by police more than 50 times in Toronto Life; Scaachi Koul, the culture writer with BuzzFeed Canada who quit Twitter briefly after facing online backlash to her call-out for diverse writers; Hannah Sung, who co-hosted The Globe and Mail’s podcast Colour Code about race in Canada; and Arti Patel, lifestyle editor with The Huffington Post, who launched Born

and Raised, a series featuring experiences shared by second-generation Canadians. Angie Seth, weekend anchor for Global News at 6, moderated

this discussion on the actions being taken and the impact they’re having, both in newsrooms and in the greater community.

Politics and Democracy in America: Ottawa February 16, 2017 – National Arts Centre

Our Toronto event travels to Ottawa! They were the breakout journalism stars of the United States election campaign: Susanne Craig, the New

York Times investigative reporter who got the scoop on Donald Trump’s tax returns, and David Fahrenthold, The Washington Post reporter who

exposed Trump’s charitable activities. Taking place just weeks after the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump, David Walmsley, editor-in-

chief of The Globe and Mail, moderated this discussion about the mistakes made and the role of the media in these uncertain times.

Politics and Democracy in America: Toronto February 15, 2017 – St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

They were the breakout journalism stars of the United States election, journalists whose relentless digging didn’t result in the anticipated outcome: Susanne Craig, the New York Times investigative reporter who got the scoop on Donald Trump’s tax returns; David Fahrenthold, The Washington Post reporter who exposed Trump’s charitable activities, and Daniel Dale, Toronto Star’s Washington bureau chief, who broke new

ground in daily fact-checking of Trump’s statements. Taking place just weeks after the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump, Neil MacDonald, opinion columnist for CBC News, moderated this discussion

on mistakes made and the role media needs to play in these uncertain times.

Finding A Way Forward: The Changing Ways Canadians Get Their News January 26, 2017 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

How are Canadians getting their news, and whom do they trust to provide it? How do perceptions differ between social media and mainstream news organizations? Does the government have a role in aiding struggling news outlets? The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF), in partnership with the Public Policy Forum (PPF), explores Canadians’ attitudes towards the media in a public opinion poll, conducted by Earnscliffe Strategy Group for PPF’s study on News, Democracy, Policy and Truth. To explore what the results mean for the future of news in Canada, Christopher Waddell, associate professor at the School of Journalism

and Communication at Carleton University and a member of the CJF Board, spoke with Edward Greenspon, president and CEO of the Public Policy Forum; Allan Gregg, principal with Earnscliffe Strategy Group; and April Lindgren, associate professor at Ryerson University School of

Journalism and principal investigator for the Local News Research Project.

Digital or Bust? The Future of Magazines November 30, 2016 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

Whether Canadian or American, magazines face a turbulent time negotiating the digital shift. In Canada, Toronto Life celebrates 50 years, The Walrus looks to build on its foundation funding model and Rogers

Media is moving towards online-only editions. South of the border, the president of the venerable thinking person's monthly, the 166-year-old Harper’s Magazine, remains firmly committed to the virtues of words on paper. Is this all cause for celebration or despair? Speakers included special guest John R. (Rick) MacArthur, president and publisher of Harper’s Magazine; Sarah Fulford, editor-in-chief of Toronto Life; Jonathan Kay, editor-in-chief of The Walrus, Steve Maich,

senior vice-president of digital content and publishing for Rogers Media; and moderator Laas Turnbull, chief audience officer for ZoomerMedia.

From the Margins to the Mainstream: What’s Next for Digital Disruptors November 15, 2016 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

Established online in the last decade, they were media's "new kids on the block"—digital disruptors that carved their own niches within the traditional media landscape and were hailed as either saviours or saboteurs: BuzzFeed, with its listicles and viral content; VICE, with its rebel millennial voice and muckraking videos; and Twitter, a platform for citizen journalism, live reporting and feedback, along with free, sharable content. Now with a strong foothold in the Canadian media industry, what are the challenges and obstacles these digital disruptors face? Simon Houpt, senior media writer with The Globe and Mail, moderated this discussion featuring Michael Gruzuk, director of news and digital content for VICE Canada; Jennifer Hollett, head of news and government for Twitter Canada; and Craig Silverman, editor of BuzzFeed Canada.

Beyond Missing and Murdered: Covering Indigenous Communities November 3, 2016 – Ryerson University, Toronto

It's 2016: Has coverage of Indigenous issues shifted from niche media to the mainstream? In addition to several news organizations’ award-winning reportage on missing and murdered indigenous women, ground-level changes—such as the creation of dedicated beats, units, internships and university courses—are intended to bring greater awareness to the history and challenges faced by the Indigenous community. Does this signal progress and hope for sustained coverage for a community traditionally underserved by the media? Lenny Carpenter, program manager of the Indigenous Reporters Program for Journalists for Human Rights; Karyn Pugliese, executive director of News and Current Affairs for APTN; Tanya Talaga, reporter with the Toronto Star; Connie Walker, investigative reporter for CBC News; and moderator Duncan McCue, host of Cross Country Checkup

(CBC Radio One), were in conversation on the state of the media on Indigenous affairs in Canada's new era of truth and reconciliation.

Building Bloomberg News October 25, 2016 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

In an era of mounting newsroom cutbacks that threaten quality journalism, Bloomberg News remains a financial and journalistic success story. Matthew Winkler, Bloomberg News co-founder and editor-in-chief

emeritus, discussed newsroom budgets, the evolution and ethics of business news and working with Michael Bloomberg to create The Bloomberg Way. Winkler was in conversation with Jacquie McNish, award-winning senior correspondent with The Wall Street Journal.

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