CORNWALL Ontario – St. Lawrence College Cornwall campus put to death its journalism program officially.
While not surprising, it’s a sad tale that shows an ineffective, and ignorant side to the college which refused to embrace the realities of the very industry it was supposed to be training people to enter.
Most of the blame has to be squarely leveled at Cornwall Campus Dean Don Fairweather.
Francis Racine reported in Le Journal de Cornwall:
Done are the days where curious soon-to-be journalists could be seen throughout Cornwall, in search of a good or interesting story. Gone is also The Point, the only newspaper to cover news at the College. “Every time a program ceases to operate, it creates sadness,” explained the dean of the College, Don Fairweather. But the college is a business. When a program isn’t profitable enough, we have to shut it down.”
But it was Dean Fairweather himself that refused to work with CFN which when started in 2009 has been cutting edge in the industry which would give students the skills that could actually lead to jobs in the industry. CFN itself has led its market since early 2012 yet the Dean and his team refused to allow us interns from the school, ( students were sent to private businesses over the largest media outlet in the region) essentially refused to advertise or work with CFN, and instead had teachers of journalism that actually included one of its grads who never really had worked much in the industry. One of its former teachers complained that CFN was too much TMZ. It should be noted how many are employed by TMZ when considering such a statement….
It also focused on long gone principle’s of print media and did not adjust to the realities of the online industry including elements such as blogging.
Mr. Fairweather is also on the board of directors of where CFN banks and sure enough, they also boycott the newspaper even though we have the audience, demographics and value compared to where they do advertise.
Sadly in 2015 there is a huge demand for future journalists that can adapt and work in the changing medium and changing demands for journalism. Shooting video, photos, working live, and social media are critical for successful journalists today.
Dean Fairweather did not respond or comment to this story.
Journalism was only offered at SLC Cornwall. If the registration numbers are not there I can understand why the program was cancelled. Journalism courses are offered across Ontario at colleges and universities.
College courses come and go. I don’t think this will be the last course cancelled by SLC, or for that matter college / universities across Ontario.
Some people like TMZ, some others don’t. Some people like gonzo journalism, some don’t. In Cornwall it seems not many like CFN or how it does things.
Keep doing what you’re doing, you’re good at it.
Hugger you’re wrong. People overall love CFN. We publish raw numbers. They don’t lie. There are certain people that have a problem with the truth. They click too 🙂
I agree, there are certain people that have a problem with the truth here. But just because they click doesn’t mean they like what you do. That was the point I was trying to make.
Hugger, Hugger, Hugger…. 🙂
I like what you do. You publish the unfiltered version, or as I like to call it the BS-free version, of what’s going on in Cornwall, as compared to other media outlets whom shall remain nameless.
Hugger after six years and over 10,000 pieces we still are telling truths. I think the fact that the cliques boycott and try and destroy CFN say much more about that part of our community than CFN itself.
I also think it’s time for people and business to stop living in fear of the clique and stand up for themselves as I will not be here much longer to do so for those that come for help.
Jamie I said it from the first day I laid eyes on your paper that it is the very best and that you tell the truth and that is from me yours truly. The other papers are under control of the clique and the corporation that owns them and they are all extremely jealous of your accomplishments. Cornwall is a mighty backward and strange place and I will never understand why people choose to live there. I could not wait to hit the road out of that weird and wacky town. St. Lawrence College in my day and a little afterwards had some good courses and they all went bye bye’s to Kingston. Everybody leaves Cornwall for elsewhere for education and work – forget Cornwall it died. That is what I like about renting is that we are free. When you buy a place you are literally stuck and are one of the debt slaves. No tanks you can’t buy freedom. Cornwall sucks big time and died and never to recouperate. The town is for the dying and people who are alive have to leave or they die.
I don’t think Jules likes Cornwall much.
So, Jules….you like paying someone’s else’s mortgage? That’s what rent is. I’d rather own my own home and be in charge of my own destiny than pay someone’s bills for them.
Jaime, are you leaving Cornwall and shutting CFN down? That’s what I reads in your last comment.
Furta, I agree. But it would be nice if she said something nice once in a while about Cornwall, don’t you think?
Hugger not sure what you are reading as I definitely did not make that statement. Have you been celebrating 420? 🙂
Admin said:Hugger not sure what you are reading as I definitely did not make that statement. Have you been celebrating 420? 🙂
Here is what I’m referring to: April 20, 2015 at 6:24 pm….I also think it’s time for people and business to stop living in fear of the clique and stand up for themselves as I will not be here much longer to do so for those that come for help.
Hugger I have stated that I will not be the Man Ed of CFN after 2015. My role will be reduced. That certainly didn’t state what you earlier did 🙂
Isn’t the Internet lovely? So many different ways to interpret a statement.
Jules… isn’t there an Ottawa based website that you could peruse? If we in Cornwall are so dead and backwards, leave us alone. Have fun in Ottawa, we don’t need your kind here anyway.
Jean do you own CFN? No you don’t so you cannot tell me what to do or don’t do and I no longer reside in Cornwall’s hell hole thank God. What we went through was horrific and Jamie is going through hell and a hell that I would never ever put up with at all. As for looking at Ottawa’s news or whatever I rarely ever do so and don’t wish to. I have more fun laughing at what goes on in Dodge aka Cornwall than anywhere else. No town is a backward and wacky as Cornwall. Cornwall’s reputation is as black as anything can ever get. No Hugger I do not have anything good to say about Cornwall. If you went through the things that I have been through including my family and what Jamie is going through you would have a complete change of heart.
Hugger I am helping to pay someone else’s mortgage, etc. but I can tell you (I swear to God) that I never felt better than I do since we sold our house. You have no idea what all was entailed to do and it would cost an arm and a leg and thensome. Owning a house – you don’t own that house that you are in and the government can take it away at any time they want. You are really a tenant on the land that you are living on. I am free to come or go if something happens and it will happen. Oh before I rattle on did you look at what is going to happen to the electricity starting on May 1 for those under Hydro 1. Go to the freeloader and read. Who knows what will happen to Cornwall in 2019.
We need to find Jules a hobby.
“and instead had teachers of journalism that actually included one of its grads who never really had worked much in the industry.”
I fail to see the relevance of this. She was an excellent prof.. What she ‘may have lacked’ in experience, she definitely made up for in technical know how, ability, and quality of lessons. I actually found it was easier to relate to her since she was a graduate of the program and a younger individual.
Am I sad to see the program go? For sure. Did the program have its issues? Sure, what college course doesn’t? Was she one of those issues? Far from it.
Just wanted to put that out there.
Please do some research before you make statements like that.
I have no idea what is entailed in owning a home? Yes, I do. And we do own the home we’re in, according to all the paperwork I have in my office.
If you think Hydro One is out of control now, just wait. Once it’s sold off there will be more desire for profits, thus higher rates.
“It also focused on long gone principle’s of print media and did not adjust to the realities of the online industry including elements such as blogging.”
Just like to say that the program did indeed cover ‘blogging’, as well as alternative forms of journalism, social media, photojournalism, multimedia reporting, etc…
I’m confused… Do you fact check?