Famous Canadian Journalists

Canadian-American journalist Peter Jennings is best remembered for his stint on ABC World News Tonight, as its sole anchor. A high-school drop-out, Jennings became one of the U.S.’s Big Three news anchors, along with Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather. He was known for his meticulous coverage of breaking news stories.

Nardwuar the Human Serviette is a Canadian musician and interviewer. He was a founding member of the popular garage rock band The Evaporators where he currently serves as the keyboardist and lead singer. As an interviewer Nardwuar is renowned for his unorthodox approach and bizarre questions. In 2019, he was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.

David Brooks is a Canadian-born American conservative political commentator. Having worked with popular publications like The Washington Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, and Newsweek, Brooks is currently contributing as a writer for The New York Times. Also an educator, David Brooks has taught at prestigious institutions like the Sanford School of Public Policy and Yale University.

American-Canadian journalist Jane Jacobs is best known for her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities. A specialist in urban culture and its issues, she was one of the few women who excelled in a male-dominated field. The Vincent Scully Prize winner was initially scorned at as a housewife.

Morley Safer was a Canadian-American journalist and correspondent for CBS News. He is best remembered for his tenure on the popular television news broadcast 60 Minutes. Safer is credited with contributing to the success of 60 Minutes, which is the most profitable and most-watched program in television history. During his 60-year career, Morley Safer received several awards including 12 Emmys.

Ashleigh Banfield is a Canadian-American journalist best known for hosting the popular television news program Banfield. A well-known journalist, Banfield has also hosted shows like Early Start and Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield on CNN. In 1994, she was honored at the NATPE Iris Awards with two awards under the Best of Festival and Best News Documentary categories.

Vice co-founder and CEO Shane Smith is a renowned journalist and entrepreneur whose work has taken him to remote and war-torn places such as North Korea and Liberia. Listed as one of Canada's Richest People in 2015, he is a self-made millionaire with riches such as an 8-bedroom California mansion.

Lyse Doucet is a Canadian journalist who works with the popular broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). She is BBC's current Chief International correspondent. One of the most respected and decorated Canadian journalists of all time Lyse Doucet has received several prestigious awards, such as the Royal Television Society Award, Peabody Award, David Bloom Award, and a Silver Sony Award. 

John Saunders was a sports journalist who worked for the popular cable sports channel ESPN from 1986 to 2016. During his career, Saunders anchored important events, such as the 1995 World Series of Major League Baseball (MLB). His book Playing Hurt: My Journey from Despair to Hope was published posthumously.

Vampiro is a Canadian professional wrestler best known for his association with the popular Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). He has also wrestled for several other promotions, such as World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Also a musician, Vampiro is credited with forming a band called Droch Fhoula, in 2006.

Tarek Fatah is a Canadian liberal journalist, author, commentator, and Islamic reformer. Fatah, who was born in Pakistan, is renowned for his criticism of Islamism and Pakistan. Thanks to his views, Fatah remains a controversial figure in several Islamic countries. He is also known for his activism and has been active in advocacy groups that support causes like LGBT rights.

Suroosh Alvi is a Canadian filmmaker and journalist of Pakistani origin. He is credited with co-founding a digital media and broadcasting company called Vice Media which is currently operating in over 50 countries. As a filmmaker, Suroosh Alvi has produced documentaries that deal with controversial issues, such as the Iraq War and the rise of global terrorism.

Peter Mansbridge is a British-born Canadian former news anchor. During his 49 years long career, Mansbridge served as the anchor for CBC Television's The National as well as the chief correspondent for CBC News. He also hosted his own show Mansbridge One on One which was aired on CBC News Network. Peter Mansbridge has won many prestigious awards, including 13 Gemini Awards.

The brother of former Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau and the brother of the current PM Justin Trudeau, Alexandre Trudeau is a documentary filmmaker and journalist who has covered events from Baghdad to the Balkans. He is also the author of Barbarian Lost, his reflection on his experiences in China.

Serge Monast was a Québécois investigative journalist, poet, and essayist. He was also known as a conspiracy theorist. He wrote extensively on the theme of the New World Order in the 1990s and was particularly inspired by the works of fellow conspiracy theorist William Guy Carr. Project Blue Beam (NASA) is one of his most popular works. 

Adrienne Clarkson is a Hong Kong-born Canadian political leader and journalist. She is best known for her service as the Governor General of Canada from 7 October 1999 to 27 September 2005. Over the course of her career, Adrienne Clarkson has won many prestigious medals and awards such as the Canadian Centennial Medal and the Vimy Award.

Born in Scotland, William Lyon Mackenzie moved to Canada as a merchant but soon got involved in the country’s politics. He later stepped into journalism and launched his own newspaper, the Colonial Advocate. He spearheaded the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, a failed uprising against the Canadian government.

The first North American Black woman to publish a newspaper, USA-born Mary Ann Shadd was the founder of the Canadian newspaper, The Provincial Freeman. Concurrently serving as its anonymous editor and contributor, she also became one of the first women to pursue journalism in Canada. She was also one of the first Black women to earn a degree in law.

Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari is also a human rights activist and an Emmy-winning filmmaker. He has won honors such as the Oxfam Novib/PEN Award. His book Then They Came for Me was a bestseller, while he has made films such as And Along Came a Spider, mirroring Iran’s society.

CBS News journalist Catherine Herridge has won multiple awards, such as the Tex McCracy Award, for investigative journalism and covered many international events such as the 9/11 attacks. She has also worked with FOX News and penned the book The Next Wave, which spoke about homegrown terrorism.