College newspaper starts a business section

Jack O. Denton, the editor in chief of the student newspaper The Varsity at the University of Toronto, writes about why it has started a business section.

Denton writes, “The launch of a section focusing on business, innovation, finance, and entrepreneurship is part of an ongoing commitment to serving our readers and developing our contributors. As an institution, The Varsity is both outward- and inward-facing, and this editorial expansion is a nod to both of these commitments.

“As it currently stands, there is a drought in the coverage of business at the university and in the surrounding community. We are surrounded by fascinating, untold stories of student startups and competitive case competitions.

“In addition, there remains a stark need for watchdog reporting on university finances and deep-dive investigations into how U of T operates as a multibillion-dollar corporation. We’re going to tell these stories in a new Business section — celebrating student innovation and holding the university to account.

“Moreover, and just as important, this section will provide a new platform for training Varsity contributors. In an industry climate of uncertainty and turbulence, business journalism stands out as a bastion of stability and a force for innovation. Creating a new section that acts as a playing field for the next generation of Canadian business journalists to practice their craft and make worthwhile mistakes is no small part of this editorial expansion.”

Read more here.