Jon Thompson joins TVO in Thunder Bay
TVO is pleased to announce the expansion of its current affairs coverage with the establishment of its first local journalism hub, headed by Jon Thompson in Thunder Bay. The position is part of a new TVO initiative to get closer to where people live and focus on how local and regional issues are of interest to the province as a whole.
An award-winning print, television and web journalist who has spent his entire career reporting on municipalities from Kenora to White River and many of the region’s First Nations communities, Thompson brings to TVO deep experience in and knowledge of Northwestern Ontario
“TVO’s decision to establish a presence in my hometown of Thunder Bay has the potential to be among the most meaningful journalism projects this region has seen in my lifetime,” said Thompson. “In today’s global world, creating space for the local perspective is more important than ever before.”
Thompson has received several awards for his work, including the 2012 Northwestern Ontario Visionary Award, and the 2009 Canadian Medical Association/Canadian Nurses’ Association Journalism Award for Print. A certified teacher, his first book “The Homelessness Project” has long served as a textbook for Confederation College’s Child and Youth program.
Announced in January 2017, TVO received a $2 million donation from Goldie Feldman and the Barry and Laurie Green Charitable Trust to develop a new network of local hubs, expanding TVO’s unique model of in-depth journalism in underserved regions throughout Ontario.
In addition to Thunder Bay, TVO will create three other hubs in the coming months, which together will increase the overall presence of Ontario issues, ideas and events on TVO’s website and on The Agenda with Steve Paikin. The initiative will also establish new partnerships with colleges and universities, creating internship opportunities for students.
“This is an enormously important step for ensuring journalism’s vital contribution to a healthy, vibrant democracy,” said John Ferri, TVO’s Vice President of Current Affairs and Documentaries. “TVO is proud to be building on our strengths and adding a new dimension to journalism in Ontario, strengthening our commitment to educating and enhancing public and civil discourse.”