MTL Blog


MTL Blog is a Montreal based local news blog that has both localized and international editions founded in 2012 by Charles Lapointe and Joshua McRae and owned by Narcity Media. The site features local & Canadian news, best of lists, provocative articles, and blogs.

History

MTLBlog.com was initially launched in 2012 by Chuck Lapointe and Joshua McRae as a website focused on nightlife photography and parties in Montreal.
In 2013, the website incorporated into MTL Blog Inc. and started creating more content in style of listicles that were local, and some more generic. Key managing partners contributing to the company at this time were Michael D'Alimonte, Natalie Solomon and Queeny-Marie Noche. MTL Blog's first office was located in Montreal, QC on Saint Laurent Boulevard.
In 2014 and 2015, the blog's popularity flourished by creating more provocative content and focusing on local listicles.

Controversy

Between 2013 and 2014, the blog attracted negative attention in the public as it was accused of "everything from stealing their content to sensationalizing the news to getting basic facts wrong in their reporting." MTL Blog was notably criticized for accepting money in exchange for content. As a result, a number of mock websites had appeared as well as the #stopmtlblog movement on social media. Most of the spoof websites were taken down on the count of trademark and copyright infringements.
In 2015, writer Irina Tee wrote multiple provocative articles about relationships and dating. Irina Tee was the subject of petitions and of an open-letter demanding her suspension from her writing position at MTL Blog, thus not helping the website's image.