Meet a Journalist

This section introduces you to journalist's profile, stories and careers in the field of Journalism. Do you know a journalist who should be profiled here? Someone whose reporting skills you admire, whose career has inspired you? If so, send an e-mail to Janet Bardon.

Phylis Barnatt, Vice-president, Ontario Journalism Educators Association
From the time I was five years old, my younger brother and I would meet Mom after school at the The Times-Review office. Back then, the printing press was churning out the newspaper in the backshop and pungent printer's ink welcomed us to a world of noise, proofreader's galleys and type set backwards by hand before being locked in for the move to the pressroom...

Lorette C. Luzajic, Freelance Journalist
Words matter- they tell important news, and the telling depends on accuracy, research, investigation, and human reaction. Words convey more than information, however- they reflect emotions and journeys, and they conjure new ideas and spark controversies.

Rita Monaco-Mancini, Freelance Journalist and Registered Accountant
My career as a journalist started by accident in 1999. Up to that point, I earned my keep as an income tax and small business advisor. This work helped me realize how little the middle class, single parent families, and the average 'joe' knew about finances...

Linda Kay, Freelance Writer and Editor
Like many in the profession, I'd been singled out for my writing ability early on, winning third place in an essay competition on fire safety in the fifth grade.

Kira Vermond , Freelance Writer and Editor
I think I've always known I was going to have a career in the media...I remember reading teen magazines when I was about 12 or 13 and deciding that I was going to be an editor or writer for Seventeen and live a very chic life in New York. That never happened, but that's OK.

Jennifer Newton Reents, Freelance Journalist and Editor
I've always known that I wanted to be a reporter. I remember as a kid playing cops and robbers I was always the reporter covering the crime. It would drive my friends crazy.

Wayne Thibodeau, Political Reporter, Charlottetown Guardian
I've always known that I wanted to be a reporter. I remember as a kid playing cops and robbers I was always the reporter covering the crime. It would drive my friends crazy.

Doug Lunney, News Reporter, Winnipeg Sun
Some sort of media career was often in the back of my mind growing up, but I didn't seriously consider it until my second, and what turned out to be my last, year of university at University of Manitoba......

Barbara Florio Graham, Freelance Writer
I feel I have always been a writer. I was first published (in Humpty Dumpty Magazine) at the age of 9. Payment was $5 and a free subscription...

Peter Duffy, Columnist, The Chronicle-Herald
I was born and bred in Manchester, England and don't honestly know if I chose journalism, or it chose me.

Peter Fretty
With a BA in management and an MBA in marketing, my career actually started in the business world - automotive and aerospace manufacturing to be exact.

Ann-Margret Hovsepian, Professional Writer
Why did you choose journalism?

Linda Barnard, formerly @ The Toronto Sun
I have been asked to tell you what would I do if I weren't a journalist.

Shirley Moore, CBC Radio Sudbury
I had a whole other career before I decided to become a journalist.

Kathy Smith, Freelance Writer
In 1993, I worked for a non-profit organization for people with mental illness as an administrative coordinator.

Annette Phillips, Municipal Affairs Reporter, The Kingston Whig-Standard
Well I'm not a writer. That's not to say I can't write, rather that I wasn't drawn to journalism because I saw myself as an author of important literary works.

Carol Matthews, Writer/Editor/Photographer
I've wanted to be a writer since I was fourteen years old, and never considered another career.

Richard Macedo, Reporter/Photographer, Kitimat Northern Sentinel  
As a young journalist, I think I decided to go this route because it was the only occupation that could stimulate thought and provoke reaction from the community through telling truthful, fair stories.

Jasmine Miller, Managing Editor, IE Money
In 1991 I was at Ryerson, making up for a misspent youth by pursuing a general arts program, a "qualifying year" as it was called, for people who didn't actually graduate from high school or who, like me, finished with marks too low to get into any legitimate post-secondary institution.

Margaret Piton, Freelance Writer
I'm not sure I chose journalism, I think journalism more or less happened as a result of failures in other lines of work -- academic work and the diplomatic corps.

Stephanie Whittaker, Freelancer
My career in journalism is the result of serendipity.

Sean Fine, Education Reporter, The Globe and Mail
I always thought of myself as a writer.

Philip Moscovitch, Freelance Writer
I never really chose to become a journalist. I chose to become a writer, then wound up falling into journalism almost inadvertently.

Rona Arato, Freelance Writer
I didn't really "choose" journalism, it chose me.

Ruth Bowiec, Lifestyles Editor, Daily Miner & News
The reason I became interested in journalism is because I was home with my three daughters and very bored, despite the fact they kept me busy.

Joanne Jefferson, Freelance Writer
First I should say that I don't think of myself as a "journalist."

Stephen Strauss, Science Writer, The Globe and Mail
I chose journalism because it didn't appear to me that I was going to be a success at what I really wanted to be which was a novelist.

Peter J. Gallanis, Associate Editor, DSN Retailing Today
DSN Retailing Today is a national, retail trade publication.

Don Wall, National Editor, Forever Young
I figured I was suited for it, could write okay, was curious about others, loved to gather information, always asked a lot of questions of people, it seemed like a good creative outlet.

Kevin Yarr, Freelancer
When I started my third year of engineering at university I knew I didn't want to be an engineer, but I had no idea what I did want to be, so I carried on.

Cathleen Fillmore, Writer & Speaker  
I've always wanted to write but it wasn't until I moved to Toronto that I found the freedom and anonymity I needed.

Craig Harris, Editor, Canadian Insurance magazine
My name is Craig Harris and I am editor of Canadian Insurance magazine, a monthly trade publication with a circulation of 11,000 and a focus on the general insurance and financial services industries.

Judy Waytiuk, Freelance Writer
Very few people are lucky enough to be able to make their livings doing what they love most.

Boni Fox, Reporter/Host, CBC TV-Vancouver & President, Canadian Association of Journalists
I chose journalism because I loved the idea of telling stories about people, about the world, and how one affects and interacts with the other.

Paul Schneidereit, Senior Reporter & Columnist, The Chronicle-Herald Well, it sort of chose me. I had always done well at writing but was intent on another career path ...

Holly Bennett, Editorial Director, Today's Parent Group
Let's be totally honest: I lucked into this career.

JoAnn Napier, Author & Writer
Lorraine Hansberry was black, beautiful, and a playwright.

Harvey Schachter, Writer/Editor  
Rules for Young Journalists

Vida Jurisic, Editor (in Chief), Luggage, Leathergoods & Accessories
I "detoured" into writing, but the vehicle was always the word.

Ann Douglas, Author & Writer
I've been interested in writing for as long as I can remember.

Sandra Phinney, Freelance Writer  
I am celebrating my first year of owning my own business as a professional freelance writer ... which coincides with my 55th birthday.

Hal Doran, Media Consultant
I chose journalism because I was interested in telling people what was going on in the world.

Mark S. Kearney, Freelance Writer
Like many people who got into journalism, I had always enjoyed writing in school and had received encouragement from a few teachers along the way.

Lee Bacchus, Pop Culture & Book Review Editor, The Province
My entry into journalism was a bit belated.

Kerry Moore, Reporter, The Province
I looked back recently at an aptitude test I took before entering the University of B.C., and saw that "journalist" was high on the list of recommended professions.

Dawn Chafe, Editor (in Chief), Atlantic Business Magazine
As a young girl, it bothered me immensely when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Mary Jane Copps, Journalist & Past President, Media Link Inc.
I didn't exactly "choose" journalism. Although many members of my family were involved in the media, it was not something I had considered.