Media@McGill, the Centre d'études sur les médias, and Le Devoir present an international conference entitled, The Independent Newspaper: Elusive Dream or Beacon of Democracy? The conference takes place on Friday, March 12, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Grande Bibliothèque, 475 boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, Montréal.
Being part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the newspaper, Le Devoir, this all-day conference brings together prominent journalists and researchers from France, Sweden, Canada and the United States to reflect on the independent newspaper in the 21st century: its role, content and public, as well as its editorial structure, financing and management. In the current context of uncertainty for the printed press, what kind of position remains for the daily independent newspaper?
As Marc Raboy and Florian Sauvageau remind us, all over the world the printed press is in turmoil. Daily newspapers in particular are experiencing difficult times. Readers, especially youth, are turning towards the Internet, and advertising revenues are plummeting. The daily newspaper's current financial model seems to be running out of steam. Reporters are being let go, while those still on staff endure deteriorating working conditions. In this context of uncertainty for the printed press as a whole, what kind of position remains for the daily independent newspaper?
Edwy Plenel, former Editor-in-Chief of Le Monde, will give the keynote speech. The panelists include Josée Boileau, Editor-in-Chief of Le Devoir; John Honderich, former Publisher of the Toronto Star; Karen Dunlap, President and Managing Director of the Poynter Institute; and Bernard Poulet, Editor-in-Chief of the French economics magazine, L'Expansion.