The News Was Better Then

The News Was Better Then: Stories From Inside Media Newsrooms to Political Backrooms is a timely and thought-provoking examination of journalism, politics, and the media in Canada.

With fifty years of experience in and around the news business, Grant Ainsley offers a rare insider’s perspective on how the media has changed—and what has been lost along the way. From his early career as a radio journalist in Edmonton to his role as one of Canada’s leading media trainers, Ainsley has spent a lifetime at the intersection of news, politics, and public relations.

Drawing on stories first told in his widely-read blog, Ainsley explores the erosion of traditional media, the calculated strategies behind political messaging, and the challenges of holding power to account in a world of shrinking newsrooms. Along the way, he shares revealing encounters with figures ranging from Jean Chrétien to Wayne Gretzky to John Candy, connecting personal experiences with broader lessons about the media’s role in Canada.

The News Was Better Then is part memoir, part analysis and part cautionary tale. It challenges readers to consider what happens when journalism crumbles because of a losing battle to the internet, social media and the bottom line.

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