Kirk LaPointe

Current

Managing Editor at The Vancouver Sun

Past

Advisor to the Publisher at Toronto Star
Senior Vice President News at CTV
Editor in Chief, Associate Publisher at The Hamilton Spectator

Executive Editor at National Post
Editor-in-Chief and General Manager at Southam News
Host at CBC Newsworld
Host at CBC
Chief News Editor, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Ottawa News Editor, Lifestyles Editor, Reporter at The Canadian Press
Canadian Editor at Billboard

see less...

6 more...

Education

Ryerson University

Recommended

7 people have recommended Kirk

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Newspapers

Websites

Kirk LaPointe’s Summary

I have managed in newspapers, news agencies, television and online media, helped launch media and participated in revitalizing media. I have been a reporter, editor, teacher and television host. In addition to my work as the day-to-day manager of western Canada's largest newsroom, I teach at the graduate school of journalism at Unversity of British Columbia. I write a blog on media change at www.themediamanager.com.

Kirk LaPointe’s Specialties:

Newsroom management, precision journalism, teaching, freedom of information.

Kirk LaPointe’s Experience

Managing Editor

The Vancouver Sun

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Newspapers industry)

2003 — Present (6 years )

Accountable to the Editor-in-Chief, responsible for day-to-day newsroom management, directly responsible for online operations. Newspaper has won several awards, including National Newspaper Awards and Webster Awards, during this time.
Advisor to the Publisher

Toronto Star

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Newspapers industry)

2002 — 2003 (1 year )

Advised the publisher of Canada's largest daily newspaper on editorial issues, including strategy on market expansion in print and online.
Senior Vice President News

CTV

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Broadcast Media industry)

2000 — 2002 (2 years )

Accountable to the President of the network, responsible for all news programming on Canada's largest private television network. Oversaw CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson and Sandie Rinaldo, Canada AM, CTV NewsNet, W-FIVE, ctvnews.com, 21C and CFTO-TV News. Indirectly responsible for news operations of network stations. Created and led first Diversity Initiative at CTV. Won Award of Excellence from Canadian Journalism Foundation in 2001. Network won Gemini and CAB awards during this period.
Editor in Chief, Associate Publisher

The Hamilton Spectator

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)

1997 — 2000 (3 years )

Responsible for editorial operations of metropolitan newspaper; associate publisher responsibilities included accountability for marketing, new media and sales.
Executive Editor

National Post

(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry)

1998 — 1999 (1 year )

Responsible for editorial administration, part of the senior editorial team responsible for content and production, member of executive board as liaison for editorial operations with other newspaper departments; helped prototype, recruit staff, establish technology in the newsroom.
Editor-in-Chief and General Manager

Southam News

(Public Company; 11-50 employees; Newspapers industry)

1995 — 1996 (1 year )

Responsible for editorial and administrative operations of news service for Canada's largest newspaper chain, with domestic and international bureaus and overseeing the exchange of content among the Southam newspapers.
Host

CBC Newsworld

(Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; Broadcast Media industry)

1989 — 1995 (6 years )

Host of Week's End 1991-95, Host of Meech Lake Review, 1990-91, Co-Host of The Week Starts Here, 1989-91, Host of Canada Connection, 1989.
Host

CBC

(Newspapers industry)

1989 — 1995 (6 years )
Chief News Editor, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Ottawa News Editor, Lifestyles Editor, Reporter

The Canadian Press

(Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Online Media industry)

1980 — 1995 (15 years )

I held several jobs with CP, starting in Toronto in 1980 as a general assignment reporter-editor, then to Ottawa in 1981 as a reporter, into its parliamentary bureau in 1982, then as a writer on communications and transportation in 1983 and 1984. I started a fitness column while there. I moved back to Toronto in 1984 to be the media writer, then as Lifestyles Editor in 1986. I returned to Ottawa in 1987 as News Editor, then left to be at CBC Newsworld in 1989. I returned as the Bureau Chief in 1991 and then moved to Toronto briefly in 1995 as General News Editor.
Canadian Editor

Billboard

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Music industry)

1983 — 1991 (8 years )

Kirk LaPointe’s Education

Ryerson University

BA , Journalism , 1977 — 1980

Activities and Societies:

Station Manager, CKLN Radio, 1979-80; Entertainment Editor, CKLN Radio, 1978-79; Entertainment Editor, Eyeopener Newspaper, 1977-78.