Twenty-three years ago, I arrived at the Ottawa Business Journal as editor. At that time, our main focus was producing a weekly newspaper. We had journalists, a researcher, a photographer. It was a busy newsroom. We also had a strange, new position: a full-time reporter who posted stories on a website. We regularly broke news about venture capital deals and real estate transactions — in real time, it seemed. I had never seen such a thing. None of us knew if it would catch on or make any money, but it was exciting.
And, as it turned out, extremely prescient. I had just come from a thriving community newspaper where digital news had barely been on the radar. And two years later I would leave OBJ to join a large media organization where it seemed impossible that the daily print product would ever be displaced by some website.
Well, I, along with many of my colleagues, paid the price for that misjudgment. Ultimately, I left the media, but I watched from the sidelines as the industry went into the throes of a digital transformation that continues to this day, with my beloved profession of journalism caught up in the middle of it.
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OBJ launches the 2026 Executive Report on Cornwall
Cornwall has emerged as one of Eastern Ontario’s most compelling locations for business investment, thanks to a combination of affordability, strategic positioning, and a steadily growing economic base.
OBJ launches the 2026 Executive Report on Cornwall
Cornwall has emerged as one of Eastern Ontario’s most compelling locations for business investment, thanks to a combination of affordability, strategic positioning, and a steadily growing economic base.
Then, as life would have it, four years ago I returned to OBJ as editor. I arrived to find that our main focus was writing news on a website, producing email newsletters, and sharing content on social media. Cool. Except that … our quarterly newsmagazine languished (for many reasons — a pandemic didn’t help). It seemed sad. But, I thought, even a trad editor like myself had to move with the times.
And so you can only imagine how excited I was when we started talking about reviving our print product, calling it our “flagship” publication. Quality stock, original photography, gorgeous design, thoughtful features. It was music to my ears. But also scary. Could we do it? Would it make money? Would our readers like it? The digital-print balance for any media outlet remains precarious. A glossy (costly) publication seemed like a daring step in that ongoing dance.
Well, 12 months or so later, and here we are. I’m very proud to be sharing this publication with our readers. In this magazine, you’ll see our annual Fastest Growing Companies program gain new life. You’ll find engaging lifestyle stories aimed at an OBJ audience. And you’ll see colourful features about local businesses and businesspeople. All of this content is print-first, digital-second. It’s been quite the transformation.
And it’s been a team effort, just like in the olden days when all the functions of a news outlet would combine to create one great product. For you, our readers.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this achievement, especially as OBJ itself marks its 30th anniversary. It’s an amazing milestone that could not have been reached without the vision, skill and daring of so many OBJers, surrounded by the support of our community.
OBJ’s new glossy magazine is mailed direct to Insiders and can be found at select locations around the city. Digital access is available here: https://tinyurl.com/9cehxhnp
