Shane Smith

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Shane Smith – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life, career trajectory, and media influence of Shane Smith — Canadian journalist, co-founder of Vice Media, story-telling innovator. Includes key quotes, lessons, and legacy.

Introduction

Shane Smith is a Canadian journalist, media entrepreneur, and visionary behind the rise of Vice Media. Born in 1969, Smith transformed a small countercultural magazine into a global multimedia empire. Over decades, he has fronted immersive journalism, global reporting, and bold content that aims to reach younger audiences with unconventional narratives.

His career sits at the intersection of journalism, entertainment, and activism. Through travel reporting, documentary works, and news programming, Smith has pushed boundaries in what storytelling in the modern media age can look like.

Early Life and Education

Shane Smith was born on September 28, 1969, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa, then studied at Carleton University, earning degrees in English literature and political science.

In his youth, he was involved in local punk bands and traveled in Eastern Europe before settling in Montreal, where his media career would take shape.

These formative experiences—music, travel, literary and political studies—helped shape his sensibility toward combining culture, reportage, and youthful voice.

Founding Vice & Early Media Work

From Voice Magazine to Vice

In 1994, Smith joined Voice magazine in Montreal (later known as Voice of Montreal). Gavin McInnes and Suroosh Alvi.

In 1996, the three purchased the magazine and renamed it Vice.

Early Vice issues focused on offbeat, edgy, youth culture topics—often pushing against mainstream media norms.

Transition to Video, News & Global Reporting

Around 2006, on the counsel of creative director Spike Jonze, Vice expanded from print into digital video and began developing news content.

Smith played an active correspondent role—traveling and reporting from some of the world’s most challenging places: North Korea, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, etc.

In 2013, Vice launched its flagship show on HBO, VICE on HBO, bringing immersive journalism to mainstream television.

Under his guidance, Vice grew into a media company spanning digital channels, television production, a creative agency, publishing, and film.

Career Achievements & Influence

Leadership at Vice

Smith served as CEO of Vice from its founding until March 2018, when Nancy Dubuc was appointed CEO. Executive Chairman and focused on strategic content direction and partnerships.

During his leadership, Vice secured major global deals, expanded into new territories, and built brand partnerships across industries.

Awards & Recognition

Smith’s work has been honored with multiple awards:

• Emmy Award (for VICE on HBO) in 2014

• Two Peabody Awards (for Vice News segments "The Islamic State" and “Last Chance High”)

• Environmental awards for coverage of climate issues (e.g. Greenland melting)

• Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year (2016)

• Other honors include the Frank Stanton Award for Excellence in Communication, Los Angeles Press Club awards, etc.

Smith was also recognized in business and media circles for his visionary role in transforming Vice into a global youth media powerhouse.

Style, Philosophy & Risks

Smith combines immersive journalism, gonzo storytelling, and institutional critique. He often embeds himself in stories rather than remaining an outside observer.

He advocates for covering underrepresented stories, going beyond conventional news beats into taboo, dangerous, or marginalized locales.

Smith has embraced the idea that media should engage youth through experience and authenticity rather than polished distance.

However, he has also faced criticism over Vice’s workplace culture, editorial choices, and sustainability challenges.

Legacy & Impact

Shane Smith’s impact is significant in these dimensions:

1. Media Innovation
   He helped redefine how storytelling and journalism adapt in the digital era—especially for younger audiences.

2. Global Reach of Alternative Journalism
   Under his direction, Vice turned from niche counterculture magazine into a global media brand.

3. Narrative Shift in News
   Smith emphasized experience, immersion, visual storytelling, and risky content over safe repetition of the same news.

4. Cross-platform Expansion
   His vision extended Vice beyond journalism into film, publishing, creative services, and brand partnerships.

5. Inspiration to New Journalists
   Many upstart reporters and media entrepreneurs cite Smith as a model for mixing independence with scale.

Though Vice has faced financial, structural, and reputational challenges in recent years, Smith’s imprint on 21st-century media remains visible.

Famous Quotes & Remarks

Here are a few remarks attributed to Shane Smith:

“It’s the best time in history to be a content creator.”

“They’ve got us by the eyes and ears and mouth and genitals; they own us, and that is the terrifying fact.” (on modern media)

“If you don’t like what’s on TV, turn the set off. Don’t go down and knock the light out.”

These lines reflect his combative, critical stance toward media culture and his belief in reclaiming narrative control.

Lessons from Shane Smith

From Smith’s career, we can extract these key lessons:

• Start small, think big
  Vice began as a small magazine, but Smith always aimed for scale, adaptability, and reinvention.

• Immerse to reveal
  Engaging deeply in a story (on the ground) often yields richer insights than detached reporting.

• Embrace risk and boundaries
  Pushing taboos and new formats can differentiate work in a crowded media space.

• Multi-platform thinking
  Diversifying across video, print, digital, publishing, creative services helps media resilience.

• Know your audience, but lead them
  Smith targeted younger viewers, but also challenged them with substance and authenticity.