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Journalist Michel Auger, who was known for his long career covering the organized crime world, has died, according to several reports in the Quebec media.
Auger started his career at Nouvelliste in Trois-Rivières in 1964. He then worked at Montréal-Matin and La Presse for a few years before moving to Journal de Montréal.
Auger devoted a large part of his career to organized crime. In the 1990s, he published several series of articles on rivalries between motorcycle gangs — a touchy subject that nearly cost him his life.
On Sept. 13, 2000, while travelling to the offices of the Journal de Montréal, he was riddled with six bullets in the back. He survived his injuries and testified about his experience in his autobiography, The Attack.
After more than 40 years in the industry, he retired in 2006. He honoured many times in his long career. In addition to receiving the Judith-Jasmin Hommage award in 2013, he was also the recipient of the Career Coronation Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
In 2000, the International Union of the Francophone Press awarded him the prize for free expression. Shortly after being the victim of the attack, Auger received the Medal of the National Assembly.
“Your courage and your refusal to remain silent inspire us and encourage us to reiterate our determination to build a tolerant society free from violence,” Prime Minister Lucien Bouchard declared at the time.
