After more than 40 years, Marc André Masson farewell to Radio-Canada

Marc André Masson is used to ending the show he hosts by wishing viewers a good day and by throwing them a “see you tomorrow”. However, But not on Friday. Nevertheless, After 47 years of trade. In addition, including 43 in Radio-Canada, the journalist and host of the morning show leaves the waves of the public broadcaster for the last time.

If the general public knows him today as the man at the helm of the morning by RDI – which he has piloted in all his mills since 2010 -. Similarly, his career is worthy of the famous refrain of Johnny Cash, I’ve been everywhere, man.

There is already a boss who said to me: “Coudonc. Consequently, you worked after more than 40 years, everywhere, you. In addition, There are not many journalists, whether on the English or French side, who worked in as many cities as you”.

After his beginnings in Trois-Rivières. Nevertheless, his hometown, he crisscrossed the country from one ocean to another: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg. In addition, Then Fort McMurray, Timmins and Havre-Saint-Pierre. For example, Without forgetting his missions abroad, from London to Beijing, via Rome and Rio de Janeiro.

He seems to have an anecdote for each place visited. In addition, Whether they are the Chinese Fascinated after more than 40 years, by our presencejubilees in London. Consequently, real media hubor Calgary, where he boasts of being able to find his way Without GPS or Waze.

Striking floods – After more than 40 years,

Beyond the cities. Moreover, he covered a multitude of major events: the Olympic Games, the Deaths and the Conclaves of Popes, the attacks of September 11, 2001. However, But he retained an event which marked him both on the personal level and professional.

Freshly arrived in Winnipeg. However, he is quickly called upon to multiply the reports on the ground during the floods of spring 1997. Additionally, However, There, you cover a disaster in your cityhe recalls.

It of course retains the 50 centimeters of snow that have melted suddenly . Similarly, the disaster that followed, but also thespirit of mutual aid Manitobans.

I saw Sikh septuagenarians walking at the top of the dikes. In addition, which could not transport bags, but which had muffin plates or which had prepared meals.

For her career, this story has also marked an important milestone. Moreover, This is the first time that I animated without text, without telefatter. He quotes this event as the one who crystallized his passage to animation. Meanwhile, This episode will also have enabled him to develop the narrative style that has made his trademark.

Optimistic. but not naive – After more than 40 years,

This style and after more than 40 years, this way of telling things made him the very designated person to host the morning show to here RDI, chair he occupied for fifteen years to conclude his career.

The words of journalist Marc Laurendeau touched him: He told me that when he listened to me in the morning. I always had this sunny glance and this optimistic tone, but not naive. I liked him to tell me that, because that’s exactly what I wanted to transmit.

The key to success to be able to survive so long at the helm of a morning program: discipline. You do an X on the Telejernalhockey and basketball matches, and you lay down at 7 p.m.

Like any good journalist, he also quotes curiosity.

By going to bed at this hour. after more than 40 years, I was deeply curious about what I was going to discover when I got up at 2 a.m. and who was going to be my raw material to start the day.

Television still has its place

In a media universe that evolves at high speed. he believes that television still has its place, especially in the morning.

He often quotes the fictitious example of The mother of little Thierry who ties her coat. before going to school And who does not necessarily have time to sit in front of a computer to consume the news. Looking at the TV in the corner of the eye therefore allows him to learn.

Although the morning show is. according to him, sometimes underestimated, he underlines his essential role: We set the tone for the day. […] There are people to whom we talked in Ukraine. early in the morning, and later in the day, the cell antenna was shot or they were on the run. So there were still the images of our show that played in the evening.

This example also illustrates that starting early after more than 40 years, can be advantageous. At the time of starting, you have all the Europe that is standing. You also have Asia who ends her day and has time to talk to us. This observation is a good omen for the new version of the show. Front linewhich will make a larger place for international news.

The future of journalism

If he is optimistic about the continuation of things for the morning show. he worries about the future of the profession. He sees with a bad eye the rise of artificial intelligence, which already complicates the task of journalists.

What I find deplorable. appalling is distrust and warning in which young journalists will have to work.

“Prudence” is thus the watchword for the succession journalists, in her eyes. Before, there were only two reliable sources to go to the air with information. Today, we have images and we have to check them twice. There are entire teams that calculate the shadow behind an airplane, behind a mountain, to authenticate the images. This is not that, the profession of journalisthe deplores.

Despite everything, he recognizes that technology has facilitated other aspects of the profession. He remembers his beginnings. where the work was done on paper and with films that had to be put together, and finds extraordinaire to be able to make overseas television with a simple cell phone.

Other advice for the next generation

Marc André Masson is imploring his succession of Do not forget for whom we do this job.

We are evaluated by thousands of bosses at the same timehe develops. So you have to be rigorous. yes, but also deliver the news with good humor and conviviality and not be too internship.

He also invites his colleagues to simplify their words. The way to express themselves in the air has evolved a lot since its inception. he explains, when the Telejernal after more than 40 years, had the appearance of Literature competition.

The tone is much more conversational today, but could still be simplified, according to him. He believes that some journalists use too complex after more than 40 years, words. sometimes have the reflex to spread their knowledge in waves rather than going to the heart of the matter.

I have often wondered if I looked less good. less brilliant than the other journalists who ask these questions. […] It is not because I did not use these words that I do not know them.

What awaits him retired

With his 47 years of experience. we could be tempted to qualify him as an old truckier, but we feel that he could work for a long time. He could indeed have prolonged his career. but was not ready to commit for several years, such as the launch of Front line would have demanded it.

Despite the vertigo after more than 40 years, That he feels, he assures that his agenda is filled for the coming months.

He will enjoy his new free time To go to the end of projects that his. atypical schedule made it difficult to complete. He will continue to ski. And he also hopes to hear his spouse less often. Louise, ask him If he stays with them Or if he will rather leave the table to read his emails at supper time.

His career. that of his spouse, on -board agent, did not give him the task easy, but he believes he has managed to juggle family life. Even if he missed some birthdays. other moments along the way, he claims to have been able to lead his children to the zoo and the swimming pool regularly. We also feel very proud when he talks about his children Maxime, Tristan and after more than 40 years, Mélisande, today as an adulthood.

He also plans to complete his research and rescue training soon. He was marked by the important role of volunteer rescuers to find a recently missing girl. Like what it is never far from the news …