CJF J-Talk - From the Margins to the Mainstream: What's Next for Digital Disruptors

Toronto, Nov. 15, 2016 - Established online in the last decade, they were media's "new kids on the block"—digital disruptors that carved their own niches within the traditional media landscape and were hailed as either saviours or saboteurs: BuzzFeed, with its listicles and viral content; VICE, with its rebel millennial voice and muckraking videos; and Twitter, a platform for citizen journalism, live reporting and feedback, along with free, sharable content. Now with a strong foothold in the Canadian media industry, what are the challenges and obstacles these digital disruptors face?

Simon Houpt, senior media writer with The Globe and Mail, moderated this discussion featuring Michael Gruzuk, director of news and digital content for VICE Canada; Jennifer Hollett, head of news and government for Twitter Canada; and Craig Silverman, editor of BuzzFeed Canada.