Updated: Editor-in-chief Scott White leaving Canadian Press

Scott White, the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Press, told staff Monday he was leaving the news agency, ending a 35-year career as a journalist.

In a brief email to J-Source, White confirmed his departure but said he could not share any details.

Scott White, the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Press, told staff Monday he was leaving the news agency, ending a 35-year career as a journalist.

In a brief email to J-Source, White confirmed his departure but said he could not share any details.

In a Canadian Press article, the 55-year-old said "Everybody should at some point admit that it's a good time for somebody else to bring in new ideas." He will resign March 21 and has lined up a new undisclosed job.

“In many ways, White personified the company's heart and soul: self-effacing but demanding attention, all the while wedded to uncompromising standards of accuracy, speed and fairness, regardless of platform,” Colin Perkel, a Canadian Press reporter, said in the article.

Related content on J-Source:

• Five take buyouts at The Gazette
• Remembering Peter Desbarats
• Global’s Tom Vernon named new Alberta provincial affairs reporter

White was hired in 1979 as a 20-year-old straight out of journalism school and served in various roles, such as a political reporter in the Ontario legislature, sports editor, Washington correspondent, Vancouver bureau chief and head of the pictures department, before taking the helm as editor-in-chief more than 15 years ago.

During his tenure, Canadian Press won the Michener Award for meritorious public service journalism, several National Newspaper Awards and the Canadian Journalism Foundation Award of Excellence. White was also at the helm of the organization when it transformed in 2010 from a newspaper co-operative into a for-profit corporation, owned by Torstar Corp., CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. and Square Victoria Communications Group, which owned seven French-language newspapers, including La Presse. 

It’s unclear who will replace White as editor-in-chief of the Canadian Press.

Canadian Press staff responsed with shock at the unexpected departure. 

Scott White, amazing editor-in-chief at @CdnPress, announces he's leaving for another industry job. Huge loss for CP. #media

— Colin Perkel (@Perkel) March 3, 2014

@Scott_White hasn't tweeted in three years. He was too busy saving The Canadian Press, and helping make it a great place to work. Thank you

— Alexander Panetta (@Alex_Panetta) March 3, 2014

Floored that Scott White is leaving @CdnPress. Nobody personifies this place like him, and he's a major reason I came on board.

— Andrew Lundy (@Landru12) March 3, 2014

Scott White held one of the most important jobs in Canadian journalism, and most of you never heard of him. This says everything about him.

— Les Perreaux (@perreaux) March 3, 2014

Related content on J-Source:

• 7 take buyouts at Ottawa Citizen
• CTV Vancouver Island news anchor Hudson Mack retires
• Hugo Rodrigues joining Cornwall Standard Freeholder as managing editor