‘Job massacre’: Ontario journalism programs adapting to changing industry amid layoffs
Global News
Media educators say teaching students to be storytellers will prepare graduates for careers that might have to withstand several shocks.
Journalism schools across Ontario say they are adapting their programs to better reflect changes in the industry, teaching students how to become storytellers not just in traditional newsrooms, but in other fields as well.
It’s a shift media educators say will prepare graduates for careers that might have to withstand several shocks — a reality underscored as many journalism students received their diplomas this week while massive layoffs took place at Bell Media.
“In the same week we have this joyous occasion of convocation, we have this job massacre at Bell Media, which is significant and not good,” Allan Thompson, journalism program head at Ottawa’s Carleton University, said in an interview.
BCE Inc. said on Wednesday that it would be cutting 1,300 positions, closing two foreign bureaus and shutting or selling nine radio stations under the Bell Media banner. A staff memo said Bell Media was “moving to a single newsroom approach across brands,” citing cost pressures for the change.
Those cuts came a few months after newspaper chain Postmedia laid off 11 per cent of its editorial staff.
Despite the cuts, Thompson said there’s still good reason to consider a career in journalism, citing the need to combat disinformation and provide solid, fact-based accounts of daily events.
Tina Cortese, chair of the school of media at Seneca Polytechnic, agreed.
“There still is an absolute need for journalists and really good storytellers,” she said.
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