Five years of The Logic

Frustrated by the lack of creative and modern approaches to journalism in Canada, five years ago, David Skok, ‘02, decided to create (external link)  a publication he was proud to call his own: The Logic. (external link) 

Skok founded the business and technology publication, The Logic, in 2018, after leaving his position with The Toronto Star as associate editor and head of editorial strategy. 

Skok wanted to create a news publication at the intersection of business, tech, and informative journalism. “We report on organizations, policies, and people driving transformational change,” says Skok. 

The Logic is an independent, for-profit, and non-partisan news organization, dedicated to making Canada a better place to live through progressive and “and journalism being done right,”  said Skok, the editor-in-chief and CEO.

His approach is influencing how other media outlets cover the industry, he says.  

The Logic led the way on how Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs project on Toronto’s waterfront was being covered, he said In a 2020 podcast (external link) .  "We went to city hall, we looked at the lobbying records and it was our reporting that ultimately led our competitors, the dailies, to pick up our reporting,"  he told the host.

It’s already recognized as “the most venerable of Canada’s new independent digital startups (external link) ”.

After years in traditional newsrooms, Skok said he was inspired to try something different. His goal in founding The Logic was to make journalists the center of news organizations, to give them “the resources, time and space to do their best work.” 

It is also important to Skok that journalists are paid for their work. This is why Skok said he decided to put The Logic behind a $300/year paywall. 

“It was a risky move,” says Skok, “But it was the right time.”

Four years ago, The Logic announced $1.8 million in subsequent investment from a handful of funders including Postmedia (external link) , a venture capitalist, and unnamed angel investors.

It provides analysis on business and tech news stories such as AI technology (external link) , startups (external link) , and finance (external link) 

The Logic has become an authority on business, Skok told The Walrus in 2021 (external link) . “It’s not about reaching the greatest number of people. It’s about reaching the right people.”

Since graduating from TMU, Skok has worked as a broadcast news producer for Global News, (external link)  managing editor and vice president for The Boston Globe (external link) , and was senior producer for Canwest Broadcasting. 

In 2012, Skok was the first Canadian journalist awarded the Martin Wise Goodman Fellow  (external link) at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He was also honoured by the alumni association (external link)  in 2017.

Skok attributes his success in the industry to his time at TMU. “I found the program very practical, which was extremely helpful,” says Skok, “My love of journalism has not wavered since then.”