Ottawa Business Journal editor leaving journalism

Leo Valiquette, the editor of the Ottawa Business Journal, is leaving the publication for a position in public relations, he writes in the latest issue.

Valiquette writes, “Even casual readers of this column will probably have noticed my emphasis on people and employment issues in the high tech sector, finding that elusive balance between work and leisure, and the critical importance of strategic marketing and public relations to a startup enterprise.

“The latter point has led to my decision to pursue a new challenge outside the field of journalism. In my years with the OBJ, I have spoken with scores of executives, talent managers, headhunters, venture capitalists and sales and marketing gurus about what it takes to build a strong and successful company. A company that doesn’t rely on the ‘wow factor’ of a product’s bells and whistles to drive sales and realizes that to settle for being ‘local’ rather than global is to settle for mediocrity. Some companies in town get it, some don’t, and others never will.

“In my new role with inmedia Public Relations, I look forward to working with the ones that do and winning converts from among those that don’t.”

Read more here. Valiquette had been with the paper since 2000, and its editor since 2005.