Breaking the Big Stories

#CJFjtalk 

Nov 27

6:30 pm – Registration
7:00 pm – Discussion
8:30 pm – Reception
TMX Broadcast Centre, Toronto

@_kevindonovan @swaindiana @paula_todd

Investigative journalists uncover scandal and corruption, exposing secrets individuals and institutions want hidden. Their relentless enterprise and initiative leads to the big stories that provoke change and serve the public interest.   In a special CJF presentation, Kevin Donovan, investigative reporter and editor with the Toronto Star, and Diana Swain, senior investigative journalist with CBC News, will share the stories behind their biggest recent exposés. Paula Todd, investigative journalist, author, and broadcast and digital media professor, will moderate this discussion on the secrets of responsible reporting and why investigative journalism matters to the future of news.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

KEVIN DONOVAN is an investigative reporter and editor at the Toronto Star. His recent work has included reporting on allegations of violence and sexual harassment against Jian Ghomeshi, the former host of CBC Radio’s Q, and on scandals surrounding Rob Ford, the former mayor of Toronto. He is among the recipients of the 2014 CJF Tribute to Investigative Journalism and has won three National Newspaper Awards, two Michener Awards and three Canadian Association of Journalists Awards. He is the author of The Dead Times, a mystery novel, co-author with Nick Pron of Crime Story and author of ORNGE: The Star Investigation That Broke the Story.
@_kevindonovan 

DIANA SWAIN is CBC News’ senior investigative journalist, and was recently named a host of CBC News Network. Her recent work has included the ground-breaking investigation into Scouts Canada’s handling of sex abuse allegations which recently received the prestigious Hillman award, an investigation into the millions of Canadian tax-dollars hidden in off-shore accounts, and a report on the Canadian military’s response to the needs of returning soldiers now struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Swain’s work is frequently seen on The National and across CBC News’ platforms, and she regularly fills in for Peter Mansbridge as anchor of The National. She has received eight Gemini nominations recognizing her writing, reporting and anchoring. She has won the Gemini for Best News Anchor three times, and was the first woman in Canada to win the award. She also received the Canadian Association of Journalists’ 2011 award for Best Investigative reporting and the 2011 media award from the Canadian Medical Association for her reporting on the federal government’s behind the scenes manoeuvring on new tobacco warning labels.
@swaindiana

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

PAULA TODD is an investigative journalist, author, broadcaster and lawyer. She was the first in Canada to break news in an e-book with Finding Karla: How I Tracked Down An Elusive Child Serial Killer and Discovered A Mother of Three. Her latest book is Extreme Mean: Trolls, Bullies and Predators Online, which uncovers the real reasons people cyberabuse. (Shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Non-Fiction, 2014). A professor of digital journalism and broadcast, Paula sits as the Digital Issues Chair on the CJFE Board and is at work on her fourth book.
@paula_todd