MAJ Archives

A journalist's profile, stories and careers in the field of journalism. Know a journalist who should be profiled here? Send an e-mail to Janet E. Bardon.

September 30, 1999
Lee Bacchus (Mr.)
Pop Culture & Book Review Editor, The Province
Vancouver, BC

My entry into journalism was a bit belated. Being a prototypical slacker in the '70s, I thought the easiest route to a career was a teaching degree (from Simon Fraser). After just six months in the trenches as an elementary substitute, I waved the white flag and retreated to safer ground. Teaching was for inspired, passionate, caring people - definitely not for me.

For the next five years or so I drifted between life as a tutor to dyslexic kids and an intermittent traveller to Europe etc.

In 1980, I decided to grow up. Realizing that reading had always been a passion, I thought why not try writing. Two years later I graduated from the Langara Journalism Program at Vancouver Community College and got a temp job writing features at The Vancouver Sun.

During the 81-82 recession (bad times for newspapers), I detoured briefly to television, where I wrote for a live, two-hour evening show called Vancouver Live. I liken this four-month experience to writing bumper stickers all day long - but in an atmosphere charged with egos and manic depressives.

Mercifully, I was hired back at the Sun and spent the next six years there as a feature writer, TV critic, and finally, as a sportswriter. In 1989 I was traded to The Province for future considerations. I emerged there again as TV critic, then followed as film critic, and for the last 18 months have been writing a pop culture column for our entertainment pages.