CJF J-Talks. Journalism matters.

2017-2018 Year in Review

Fixing Newsroom Culture: A conversation with Lara Setrakian May 25, 2018 – Sheraton Centre, Toronto

Lara Setrakian is co-founder of Press Forward, an organization looking to improve newsroom culture in the wake of media-industry sexual harassment allegations—including her own against journalist Mark Halperin while at ABC News. She is also co-founder and CEO of News Deeply, a digital media company that mixes investigative reporting, expert analysis and community insights to create single-theme platforms that cover topics such as Syria, refugees and water. Setrakian was in conversation with Farah Nasser, anchor of Global News at 5:30 & 6. In partnership with RTDNA.

Building Trust in Media May 2, 2018 – Google Headquarters, Toronto

In an age of misinformation, disinformation, AI and media manipulation, how can news organizations and platforms like Google build trust with audiences? This discussion featured Richard Gingras, vice-president of news at Google, Craig Silverman, media editor with BuzzFeed News; and moderator Anna Maria Tremonti, host of CBC Radio One’s The Current.

Reportage as Superpower: A Conversation with Emily Steel April 25, 2018 – National Arts Centre, Ottawa

It’s true. Emily Steel, Pulitzer Prize-winning business reporter with , took down the bad guys with her reporting. With the media industry as her beat, she and a colleague exposed former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly’s settlements with multiple women over sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviour--now known to total more than $45 million. She went on to report about the toxic culture at Vice Media, involving four settlements over sexual harassment and defamation allegations. In this era of #MeToo, what have we learned about gender and power dynamics in the workplace? Emily Steel was in conversation with Althia Raj, Ottawa bureau chief with HuffPost Canada. When the Media Becomes the News: Covering Media, Power and Politics April 24, 2018 – TMX Broadcast Centre

In this era of #MeToo, misinformation, and media industry upheaval, the media has become the news and journalists who cover the beat are on the frontlines making front page headlines. Hear from reporters covering these turbulent Trumpian times: Michael Calderone, the senior media reporter at who has built a steadfast career covering the intertwining worlds of the press and politics; and Emily Steel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times business reporter who has covered sexual harassment in newsrooms — from reporting on the toxic culture at VICE Media to breaking the story, with a colleague, on multiple settlements by former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. Ioanna Roumeliotis, reporter with CBC News' The National, moderated this discussion.

Striking the Balance: Privacy and Freedom of Expression in a Digital Age April 4, 2018 – The Globe and Mail Centre

The so-called right to be forgotten is coming to Canada. Earlier this year, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner released a draft policy claiming the right for individuals to remove certain search engine results already exists within current privacy laws. Should Canadians welcome a version of this European law? Or are the trade-offs for Charter-protected access to information too great? Attendees explored the intersection of reputation and freedom of expression at a half-day summit featuring privacy experts, the tech industry and journalism leaders as they explored the implications for Canada. In partnership with CIPPIC.

The Stories Behind the Stories that Matter March 6, 2018 – TD Bank Tower

They are the journalists who produced some of Canada's most recent poignant and powerful stories. What challenges lie behind reporting these important pieces? From the first notion of an idea to its final fruition—and even after a story airs or is published—hear about the process and its results from three of this country's top investigative journalists. In celebration of International Women’s Day, this conversation featured Robyn Doolittle, investigative reporter for The Globe and Mail, on the ‘Unfounded’ investigation; Tanya Talaga, reporter with the Toronto Star and current Atkinson Fellow in Public Policy, on her book Seven Fallen Feathers; and Connie Walker, investigative reporter and host of Missing & Murdered, a CBC News podcast on bringing the still unsolved Alberta Williams murder story to light. Matt Galloway, host of CBC Toronto’s Metro Morning, moderated this discussion.

Funny Fake News: A Conversation with The Beaverton February 13, 2018 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

What's the difference between fake news and satire? If you don't know, The Beaverton can explain it. The weekly TV satirical news show on The Comedy Network (adapted from the popular website TheBeaverton.com) pokes fun at Canadian and world events with deft, scathing scrutiny. But what is the role of satire in journalism? And is it even more relevant in these noisy, nonsensical times? What issues are simply too sensitive to address—if any? This conversation featured The Beaverton co-anchors Emma Hunter and Miguel Rivas, along with show co-creators, co- showrunners and co-executive producers Luke Gordon Field and Jeff Detsky. Adrienne Batra, editor-in-chief of the Toronto Sun, moderated the discussion. The Reliable Source in the Age of Misinformation: A Conversation with Brian Stelter January 31, 2018 – Corus Quay, Toronto

You can't be well-informed about the media and journalism if you don't pay attention to the stellar work of CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter. Through his must-watch Sunday morning show, Reliable Sources, which examines the week's top media stories, and his must-read Reliable Sources newsletter, Stelter's media literacy work shines light on real news amid the cacophony of noise and nonsense of a presidency that seeks to demonize journalists and spreads accusations of fake news. Stelter was in conversation with Dawna Friesen, anchor of Global National.

New Media, New Models November 8, 2017– The Sport Gallery, Toronto

Who says it’s all dire news for the media industry? Consider these recent arrivals. The West End Phoenix is a community news monthly just launched in Toronto—ad-free and in print. The Conversation Canada is an edition of the Australian website that turns academic research into accessible articles. Discourse Media is an independent, Vancouver-based website finding success in its collaborative approach to journalism. Then there’s The Athletic, a subscription sports website expanding across major North American cities. In an environment where media outlets are struggling, what does it take to launch something new? And what does it take to sustain it?

Our speakers for this event were: David Bidini, founder and publisher of The West End Phoenix; Saleem Khan, emergent platforms, science and technology editor with The Conversation Canada; Erin Millar, editor-in- chief and CEO of Discourse Media; and James Mirtle, editor-in-chief of The Athletic in Canada. Catherine Wallace, the former executive producer of the Montreal Gazette’s iPad 6 pm edition who explored alternative sources of civic news as the 2016-2017 Atkinson Fellow in Public Policy, moderated this discussion. Did Technology Kill Truth—Or Set It Free? October 23, 2017 – Canada, Toronto

In an age where people have greater access to information than any time in history, are we more—or less—informed, engaged and understanding? Has technology driven us farther into our tribes and bubbles, or has it broadened and deepened our human connections? Is social media too often a purveyor of false news and misinformation, or is it a force for holding power accountable to truth?

Our speakers for this event were: Denise Balkissoon, editor and columnist with The Globe and Mail; Jonathan Kay, author, columnist and writer; Patrick Lagacé, columnist with La Presse; Jane Lytvynenko, journalist with BuzzFeed News; and Naheed Mustafa, producer, writer and broadcaster, debated and discussed these fundamental questions. Anne Kornblut, director of strategic communications at Facebook and a Pulitzer Prize winner for her work as the lead editor for 's coverage of the Snowden revelations, moderated the discussion. State of Flux: Media's Next Moves: Montreal September 27, 2017 – Concordia University, Montreal

In this ever-shifting media landscape, news organizations are anxiously seeking stable footing. What bodes best for a sustainable future for journalism: government support, tax breaks or new business models? On this CJF panel, leaders of Quebec’s top news outlets discussed future media strategies: Michel Bissonnette, executive vice-president for Radio- Canada; Guy Crevier, publisher of La Presse; Alexandre Taillefer, managing partner of the investment fund that owns L'actualité; and Brian Myles, publisher of Le Devoir. They were joined by Colette Brin, director of Université Laval’s Centre d’études sur les medias and moderator Gerald Fillion, host of RDI Économie.

Covering Canada September 19, 2017 – TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

Canada is journalism's latest cool assignment. Renewed international interest in all things Canadian means even we’re looking at our country from a different perspective—thanks in part to the Age of Trump and its contrast with our refugee-embracing, feminist prime minister. From discussing news outlets covering more Canada to others discovering our country and casting it in a flattering light, this panel explores the stories gaining traction with audiences, both locally and abroad, and the stories that still need to be told in a fraught political environment.

Madelaine Drohan, Canada correspondent for The Economist; Jodi Rudoren, editorial director of NYT Global, the international edition of the New York Times, and Stephen Rodrick, the contributing editor for Rolling Stone who recently profiled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, discussed coverage with moderator Alison Smith, host of CPAC’s foreign affairs show, Perspective with Alison Smith.

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