About the RRJ
What is the Ryerson Review of Journalism?
The Ryerson Review of Journalism is an award-winning magazine that twice a year casts an unflinching look at the practice of journalism in Canada. It is produced by final-year students in the Magazine Stream at the School of Journalism, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.
Lynn Cunningham, long-time instructor for the Review, says, "The crucible is the experience of producing a magazine that has subscribers and newsstand buyers and advertisers, a magazine that people take seriously enough to threaten to sue on occasion, a magazine whose stories are regularly cited in other media and sometimes reprinted."
Each September, students split into two groups and apply for positions such as editor, copy chief, head of research and director of circulation, on each masthead. Under the direction of faculty — with additional advice from industry professionals — students build the Spring and Summer editions of the Review from the ground up.
In addition to masthead duties, each participant is required to bring a thoroughly researched, 2,500-word feature to professional manuscript standard. These stories, on current, pressing issues in Canadian journalism, constitute the bulk of the Review’s content.
The Spring and Summer issues of the Review are celebrated at a launch party in downtown Toronto in mid-April. They are mailed to subscribers immediately, and also arrive on newsstands across Canada every April and July. If you would like to subscribe to the Review, please click here.
A Short History of the Review
School of Journalism professor emeritus Don Obe, who created the Magazine Stream and founded the Review in 1983, envisioned the publication to be "a watchdog on the watchdogs." Its specific mandate was to probe the quality of journalism in this country. After more than two decades, the filter has not changed: What does it mean for Canadian journalism now? The Review mixes tough analysis with probing profiles, and separates good journalism from bad.
The Review Online
Students also produce smaller features of around 1,000 words in length for the online edition of the Review. The online features emphasize analysis, as usual, but the scope widens: What does it mean for media now? Online content, including daily updates on the Review blog, will be refreshed regularly from October to April.
