It was in the 1960s that Jacques Duval launched the ball for automobile journalism in Quebec. Since then, the profession has developed and continued to evolve.
On the Auto Guide show on QUB Radio, Antoine Joubert and Germain Goyer received Vincent Harvey. Aged only 18, Vincent is a real car enthusiast and aspires to become a car journalist. He has set up his own forum: We roll at the Lake.
Varied routes
In the hope of practicing the profession that we exercise, Vincent wondered about the educational path leading to the career of automotive journalist.
Unfortunately, there is no such linear path to get there. “If you want to become an electrician, you will follow your training in electricity and you become an electrician and it stops there”, explains Germain.
On this subject, Antoine is rather categorical: “There is hardly anyone who has taken the same path”. He adds that “those who have studied traditional journalism in order to practice this profession realize that they have to put aside what they have learned because the profession is something else entirely”.
Antoine and Germain give the example of two colleagues who were previously teachers before pursuing a career in automotive journalism. For their part, they both pursued studies in administration in very different academic contexts.
First attempts in all modesty
If Antoine has access to almost all new vehicles thanks to his great reputation and his varied stands, the situation was very different when he started out. “The first cars I drove were Suzukis, Hyundais and Daewoos because no one else wanted to drive them,” Antoine recalls. “Driving a BMW was something. »
A changing profession
Over the past few decades, the world of media and the automotive market have evolved.
“Radio is a medium that I like very much, but today the profession has changed so much that if you want to stand out, you have no choice but to multitask”, comments Antoine.
“Television has the advantage of providing notoriety,” says Germain. Antoine goes on to say that “the best-known automotive columnists in North America are not on TV. He gives the example of Doug Demuro who has taken advantage of the growing popularity of social networks that require constant adaptation.
In the same vein, Antoine also referred to the evolution of mentalities and the disparity between the different markets in North America. “It’s almost frowned upon to go and do a review on a 500 horsepower Jeep Grand Wagoneer that costs $135,000. We are downright taboo, ”he said.
News of the week
During this show, the unveiling of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD and 2023 Ford Super Duty were also discussed, as well as the end of the marketing of the EcoDiesel-powered Wrangler.
Road tests
Antoine Joubert and Germain Goyer share their impressions of the recently tested 2022 Toyota Tundra Hybrid and 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
The Car Guideit’s every Saturday at 10 a.m. on QUB Radio, repeating on Sunday at 6 p.m.