J-Links: Alan Toulin dead at 63; Journalists up for Governor General lit awards; DJ Journo?

In Canadian media:

Journalist Alan Toulin dead at 63

Alan Toulin, best known for his writing in the Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Star and the Financial Post, passed away at the age of 63. He had been ill with what The Ottawa Citizen calls “neurological problems” for about six months, and on Sunday night, a golf ball-sized aneurysm ruptured, killing him. He had two children and three grandchildren, and leaves his wife, Mary Beth Doyle.

Journalists nominated for Governor General’s Literary Awards

Journalists Nahlah Ayed and Noah Richler have been short-listed for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, both in the non-fiction section for their works, A Thousand Farewells and What We Talk About When We Talk About War, respectively.

In international media:

South Africa makes move to improve Press Code

While the text of South Africa’s present Press Code remains unchanged, the Press Council has added three appendixes to take effect in January that will strengthen journalism and aim to improve media credibility in the country, it says. The amendments include a beefed-up Press Council that will include six members from the public, outside the news industry, and a new public advocate position which will have the ability to initiate complaints if they believe a publication has broke the Press Code.

Today’s read:

Should journalists be more like DJs?

UBC Journalism professor Alfred Hermida is tweeting and blogging from the Neo-Journalism Conference in Brussels today and tomorrow, and in this post, he summarizes the opening keynote of the conference from Mark Deuze, Associate Professor at the Indiana University’s Department of Telecommunications. In it, Deuze compares journalists to Tiesto, a house music DJ. Because everyone creates content these days, journalists need to become like DJs, such as Tiesto, who are a brand that pull in source material that they know and respect.