Bono, Geldof to edit Globe and Mail – for a cause
By Karen Mullins
TORONTO – Bono and Bob Geldof will run the Globe and Mail news desk on May 10 – for the sake of Africa.
Bono, Geldof and their organization ONE are partnering with The Globe to explore issues affecting Africa prior to the G8 and G20 to be held in June.
This is a first for The Globe and the first time Bono and Geldof have taken the helm at a North American newspaper.
Along for the ride will be Kenyan activist and blogger Ory Okolloh who will join the team as guest-editor of globeandmail.com.
“I’m a huge fan of great journalism – I can’t wait to show up for work at The Globe. Our aim in this special edition is to crack down on a few stereotypes and showcase the opportunities surrounding the African continent, not just the problems,” said Bono.
“The world will be coming to and looking at Canada this June. The older and the emerging economies will be once again be struggling to learn the new 21st century dance of cooperation and possibly even compromise, and this time under Canada’s leadership,” he said.
“The Globe and Mail, one of the world’s great papers of record, has, in a mad rush of blood to the head, agreed to let two Irish pop-singers edit their august journal for one special day, one special edition,” said the singing scribe.
“It will be dedicated to that huge, emerging resource continent of Africa and the global necessity of coming to terms with its opportunities and obstacles. I’ve gone from being an old editor of the Vancouver Georgia Straight to the new editor of the The Globe and Mail and it’s only taken 36 years! Now that’s a career trajectory,” said Bob Geldof.
“I know Bono and Geldof will bring startling and stimulating conversations to the newspaper, and Ory to our website. It’s an honour to share the newsroom with such an esteemed team, and I’m delighted to extend this experience to our readers,” said Editor-in-Chief John Stackhouse.
“I know Bono and Geldof will bring startling and stimulating conversations to the newspaper, and Ory to our website. It’s an honour to share the newsroom with such an esteemed team, and I’m delighted to extend this experience to our readers,” he said.
The Globe is the only Canadian paper with an African bureau.
Bono is the co-founder of ONE, an organization that is dedicated to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease with a strong focus on Africa.
Geldof founded Band Aid in 1984. Using the talent of musical artists he put on the first Live Aid concert in 1985 which raised $150 million for Africa. He organized Live8 – ten concerts on July 2nd 2005 with an estimated global audience of 3 billion, timed to put pressure on the G8 leaders who then made many significant poverty alleviation pledges.
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Posted by Karen J. Mullins
on May 5 2010. Filed under Canada.
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