Strompboulopoulos: Uncensored, Raw Neo-Journalism

WARNING lots of swearing and fresh ideas about the media
enjoy as it's only 800 words. good fun bio

Asked how could he say he was a failure? “Ask my ex-girlfriends,” Strompboulopoulos didn’t mince words. “I tend to go 100 miles per hour straight through the fucking glass wall.”

Literally out on the edge of the stage, George Strompboulopoulos, CBC’s host of “The Hour” kept SAIT journalism students riveted with shoot-from-the-hip style advice.

“Don’t dumb it down for the public; they aren’t a country of morons. Fuck them if they don’t get it. Better yet, go to England, it’s the Mecca for journalism. Audience gives a shit over there.”

On October 27, George gave a speech that lived up to his last three appearances at SAIT in the Orpheum Theatre likened more as a conversation with a friend.

“Just listen. If you want anything [from an interview], give it first…. If I introduce you to an idea, you can run with it – I just want to light that little spark.” Strompboulopoulos said.

SAIT Student Association and the Student Alumni invited Strompboulopoulos to speak as part of their series that runs throughout the year.

He was so unassuming, that when Strompboulopoulos took to the stage with neither pomp nor ceremony, the audience of about 375 barely recognized him until he started to test his microphone.

Part-way through the speech, the lights went dead. “Wouldn’t that be awesome if something wild happened, like I was suddenly naked?” Strompboulopoulos said without skipping a beat as power came back on. Aside from cheers from the ladies, there stood a man with few inhibitions, open and transparent to questions.

In trademark black button-down shirt, faded black jeans and Adidas sneakers to match his spiked hair, Strompboulopoulos kept the crowd’s attention with charismatic half-frown and no bull opinions.

“Pay attention to current events, or you aren’t paying attention to yourself.” Strompboulopoulos said, “If you don’t vote, fuck off and don’t complain.”

Strompboulopoulos challenged the crowd to think outside the box and question initiatives and cuts that are passed on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

“Complain that the gun laws are a waste of money, but the little girl down the street from me got gunned down. Still trying to tell me they shouldn’t outlaw semi-automatics?” Strompboulopoulos passionately put it into perspective. “Spending too much on health care? Is it your mother is in the hospital hallway dying from cancer? Fuck off if you don’t care.”

From politics and teenage apathy to music history and his best and worst interviews, Strompboulopoulos answered everything and anything in an open forum of questions.

An audience member asked, “How can you transcend space and time?” to see if there was anything Strompboulopoulos couldn’t answer. To which came the rapid-fire reply, “I haven’t been that drunk in a long time.”

His 18 years of interviewing advice was peppered with swearing, but Strompboulopoulos did apologize for it partway through – it seemed to be part of his rebel nature as a 34 year old punk.

“Read other interviews on the person, answers are windows into their soul.” Strompboulopoulos had a fair number of gems for aspiring journalists. “When I go into a session, I have no list of questions; the interviewee takes where they want to go.”

“Don’t make the story about yourself; your job is to make other people talk. Think from their perspective. Where’s the other guy coming from after their ten years of experience?”

From Margret Treadeau, David Suzuki, and Noam Chomski to The Who, Iron Maiden and Amy Lee from Evanescence, Strompboulopoulos has some job satisfaction of rubbing shoulders with exceptional people to balance out the long hours of research for future shows for “The Hour” and broadcasting on the radio in Toronto.

“Five percent of Canadians love their job. What the hell? Who fucking matters in the end? No back-up plans – Go all out and do the right thing so that when you find out what you want to do, do it.”

And as he ended with as high energy as he started two hours earlier, he tried to take the standing ovation humbly.

First year students were left with lots to think about. “I think he was very real, puts himself out there like a big bro.” said Lindsay Reitzel, a 19 year old journalism student.

She took away the inspiration that, “Strompboulopoulos can do anything he wants to put his mind to… I want to do that as well.”

For Adrian MacPherson, a 22 year old journalism student, he got the impressions that “do what you need to do to get it done in a way no one else is thinking about.”

Flocked by fans wanting his photo, to shake his hand and to tell him how much they loved him, Strompboulopoulos might have worn devil-may-care coolness that completely contrasted the sincerity and passion that he spoke with. He was open and willing to listen to everyone despite him being sick.

Thanks to the SAIT alumni for inviting Strompboulopoulos back for the fourth time.reference to SAIT i go to southern albertan institute of technology. george is the fricken man.
such a gentleman to talk to one on one. good times. and please respond on your thoughts
btw one piece i didn't get room to put in the article

once he did a radio show from the hospitial after breaking his ankle moshing
big fuxer fell on him and he wouldn't leave and miss silverchair, pearl jam and metallica
so afterwards, halfway through the radio show, he had to leave and do it while getting plastered