Cătălin Tolontan
Cătălin Tolontan | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Romanian |
Alma mater | Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years active | 1990-present |
Employer | Gazeta Sporturilor |
Cătălin Tolontan (born 6 November 1968) is a Romanian sports journalist and editor known for his investigative work for the sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor. His investigation into the deaths of victims of the 2015 Colectiv nightclub fire was featured in the 2019 documentary film Collective.
Early life
Tolontan was born in Bucharest, the son of a border guard.[1][2] He said he was inspired to become a journalist after watching the 1976 film All the President's Men when he was a child.[1] After two failed attempts to become a lawyer, Tolontan's first journalistic endeavour was when he wrote articles about football that were pasted on walls next to lifts where he worked at the Computer Science Research Institute.[2]
Journalistic career
Tolontan's first editorial experience was in 1990 when he edited the student newspaper of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.[3] After working as a sports reporter for various publications, in 1997 he succeeded his mentor Ovidiu Ioanițoaia as editor of the sports newspaper ProSport.[2] In addition to sport, Tolontan also covered international stories, including being one of the first Romanian journalists to report from Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban in 2001.[2] In 2003, Tolontan became editor of Gazeta Sporturilor.[1][4]
In 2018, after Gazeta Sporturilor was purchased by the Ringier group, Tolontan stepped down as editor, and was replaced by Cătălin Țepelin.[3] Tolontan currently acts as the editorial coordinator for Ringier's Romanian newspapers, including Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea, the latter of which has been reconfigured as an investigative newspaper.[1][4]
Investigative work
2009 Ministry of Youth and Sport embezzlement investigation
In 2009, Gazeta Sporturilor published its investigation into
2015 Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism corruption investigation
In 2015, Gazeta Sporturilor published its investigation into Elena Udrea, the then-Minister for Regional Development and Tourism, alleging that she had received bribes to fund a boxing event honouring Lucian Bute. This, along with additional corruption concerns levied against Udrea, led to her receiving a six-year prison sentence in 2018, though she subsequently fled to Costa Rica seeking asylum.[1]
2015 Colectiv nightclub fire corruption investigation
In October 2015, a fire broke out at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, killing 64 people. While 26 people died during the fire itself, the majority of victims died in the days and weeks following the fire after contracting infections in hospital. In November 2015, Tolontan received a tip from an anaesthesiologist about the high numbers of victims dying of hospital-borne infections.
Recognition
Tolontan's investigation into the Colectiv nightclub fire and the 2016 diluted disinfectants crisis were featured in the 2019 documentary film Collective, directed by Alexander Nanau.[5] Collective was nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Curtis, Bryan (25 February 2021). "The Sports Reporter Who Blew the Lid Off a National Health Scandal". The Ringer. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d Onisei, Ana-Maria (5 June 2011). "Cătălin Tolontan, jurnalist: "Am învăţat meserie din filmele americane"". Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ a b Serban, Teodor (5 April 2023). "Ce face singurul copil al jurnalistului Cătălin Tolontan. Meseria lui n-are nicio legătură cu investigațiile tatălui său". Ziare.com (in Romanian). Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Cătălin Tolontan a plecat de la conducerea GSP: Ce va face în continuare jurnalistul şi cine va fi noul redactor-şef". B1 TV (in Romanian). 11 July 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ a b Lang, Brent (6 April 2021). "'I'm Not a Hero': Meet the Crusading Journalist at the Heart of Oscar-Nominated Documentary 'Collective'". Variety. Retrieved 7 April 2023.