About Jim Travers

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Jim Travers had a remarkable journalistic career as a reporter, foreign correspondent, general manager for Southam News, editor of The Ottawa Citizen, executive managing editor of The Toronto Star and national columnist for the Toronto Star. He was also a dedicated mentor who took joy from identifying and nurturing new journalistic talent.

Travers’ professionalism was recognized by a string of journalistic awards: in 2003, the Hy Solomon Award for excellence in public policy journalism; in 2005, the Charles Lynch Award from the National Press Club; and, in 2009, the National Newspaper Award for political writing for a very prescient column, The Quiet Unravelling of Canadian Democracy. It continues to be cited to this day.

After Jim Travers died in 2011, his friends and colleagues decided to create something that commemorated his contribution to journalism while reflecting his ideals. The result was the R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship.