01/11/2012 Round Table on the professionalization of journalism

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Venue:
Simard 129

Address:
60 University, Ottawa, ON

Cost:
Free

Age Restriction:
18+

Comments: 
For the last few years, an ongoing debate exists in Canada and in Europe about the
need to require journalists to have a professional accreditation, to treat their
craft as a profession in the same way we treat a doctor or a lawyer. The importance
of the question increased with the most recent economic crisis where the quality of
journalism was left in doubt. The subject has also been discussed at length by the 
Groupe de travail sur le journalisme et l’avenir de l’information au Québec. And,
the debate is raised every time we ask a journalist to reveal his sources because we
assume that if he were protected by a professional statute, he would not have to do
it.  Regardless of the situation, there are a number of questions that remain:

•Who is fundamentally a journalist?

•What are the parameters that can be employed to circumscribe the so-called
profession?

•What would be the impact of having an organization that would regulate the
profession in a formal way?

•What would be the effect of the professionalization on the news offering?

•How will the professionalization assist journalists in the practice of their craft? 

With these questions, we indulge once again in a debate with:

•Marc-François Bernier – Associate professor and Research Chair in communication of
the Canadian Francophonie, specializing in journalism ethics 

•Anaïs Elboujdaïni – Editor in chief of La Rotonde

•Tonda MacCharles – Journalist for the Toronto Star

•Klaus Pohle – Associate professor at Carleton University

When? : January 11th 2012 at 1 p.m.

Where ?: University of Ottawa, Simard building, room 129

For more information, please contact gbonin@uottawa.ca

Free admission, come one come all!