Live Coverage
CJF Forum: Digital first, print last: The gospel of John Paton
John Paton, CEO of Digital First Media, is transforming his chain of newspapers in the United States with a digital first strategy. Join us as he talks with St. Joseph Media president Douglas Knight about where the money is in journalism (hint: it's not in print)
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So, how tonight will work: Paton will talk about his digital first strategy for about 20 minutes. After that, Douglas Knight, president of St. Joseph Media, will talk with Paton further about this strategy. The forum will conclude with a question and answer period with the audience here at the TMX Broadcast Centre. -

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On the way to Cdn Journo Fdn Digital First forum #cjfforum #TellVicEverything of course!by Mastheadmag via twitter 2/16/2012 11:52:09 PM -
For those unfamiliar, the title of this event totally gives away John Paton's strategy: "Digital First, Print Last."
Paton is a 36-year newspaper veteran, so he's not disrespecting the medium by any means. He started in the 70s as a copy boy for the Toronto Sun before becoming its police reporter. He went on to lead major media organizations such as Sun Media, and was instrumental in its sale to Quebecor over a decade ago. -

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Paton's current role is that of CEO of Digital First Media -- a media company that owns both the Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group. Together, those compose more than 800 digital and print products in 18 states serving 57 million customers -- meaning, readers, unique visitors and mobile perusers.
Correction: Digital First operates the other two media companies. -

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#cjfforum technically, digital first media doesnt own jrc or medianews, but manages both, i think ,-)by sam_piroton via twitter 2/17/2012 12:03:44 AM -

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#cjfforum. How will digital dimes replace print dollars. p.twimg.com
by Belinda Alzner via twitter 2/17/2012 12:06:01 AM -

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A few months ago, David Carr of the New York Times wrote a profile of Paton, where a competitor of Paton praised him, saying, "He’s a real news guy, not some corporate windbag.” -

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Paton's first day at the Toronto Sun was with a whole lotta drunk -- he got the job for taking a photo of a drunk columnist, got the job of someone who was fired for being drunk (not the columnist!), and his first night on the job, took his editor home dead drunk. -

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#cjfforum Zing. Paton just called out the Globe on its "glossy" paper 'strategy'by Ron Nurwisah via twitter 2/17/2012 12:19:58 AM -
Betting on glossy stock just won't cut it #cjfforumby JosephBarbieri via twitter 2/17/2012 12:20:41 AM -
John Paton at #cjfforum: need to recognize what is broken in order to fix itby Alfred Hermida via twitter 2/17/2012 12:20:45 AM -

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John Paton at #CJFForum: To change, we have to admit that newspapers are broken. You don't tinker or tweak a broken modelby Alfred Hermida via twitter 2/17/2012 12:22:42 AM -
RT @rachelnixon: Since 2005 US newspaper industry has lost 60% of its ad revenue and countless jobs says @jxpaton #cjfforumby fernsouza via twitter 2/17/2012 12:22:51 AM -

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John Paton at #CJFForum: you're going to miss us when we're gone isn't much of a business modelby Alfred Hermida via twitter 2/17/2012 12:24:15 AM -

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