Rita Kotzia: “My motivation today comes from a deep belief that culture and creativity are powerful tools to preserve, celebrate, and keep the language vibrant for the next generation.”
From newsroom floors in Montreal to documentary sets in Toronto, Rita Kotzia, BA 96, MA 04, has built a career defined by versatility, cultural curiosity, and a deep connection to language. A graduate of Concordia’s Journalism and Communications programs, she has worked across major networks, produced long- and short-form content, and helped shape educational media for francophone audiences. Today, she continues to champion French through media, education and family life, showing how language can shape a career far beyond the classroom.
Can you walk us through the major steps of your academic and professional journey?
Rita Kotzia: After graduating from Concordia, a CTV News internship launched my broadcast career and led to reporting roles at CTV Montreal and Global Television, where I covered everything from breaking news and feature stories to federal and provincial elections. I then started producing and working at Fair-Play productions before leaving for Toronto to pursue producing documentaries and series for long and short formats. Speaking French really opened further doors for me especially for networks where I could produce and conduct interviews in both official languages. This eventually led me to developing and producing French-language content for TFO (Télévision française de l'Ontario).
How did your studies at Concordia help strengthen your engagement towards the Francophonie?
RK: Being born and raised in Quebec, the importance of speaking French — and engaging deeply with francophone music and culture — was always a given. But it was during my journalism studies at Concordia that my commitment to the Francophonie truly solidified. Covering a wide range of press conferences for class assignments pushed me to use my French at a more advanced level, whether I was decoding medical innovations or breaking down complex political platforms.
I once covered the release of a CD recorded by individuals while in prison, featuring songs in both French and English. That experience highlighted the cultural richness and diversity of francophone expression, and it stayed with me.
These moments not only strengthened my passion for the French language, but also shaped how I use it today — with curiosity, respect and a real desire to amplify francophone voices.
In your view, how can an English-language university support and nurture professional paths rooted in the Francophonie?
RK: During my time at Concordia, I saw firsthand how an English-speaking university can support careers rooted in the French-speaking world. Many essays and projects could be submitted in either French or English, and most professors were bilingual, which made the transition between the two languages feel natural and seamless.
I believe that this kind of linguistic flexibility — along with internship opportunities in francophone settings and faculty who come from diverse francophone backgrounds — is what further strengthen students’ connection to the French-speaking professional world.
What motivates you today in your work promoting the French language and culture?
RK: Moving to Toronto made it even clearer to me how important it is to actively promote the French language and culture. I carried that perspective into every role I held, whether in news or long-format production. When I became a parent, it felt essential that my children also grow up learning and living in French, which is why they’ve been in French immersion since a young age.
A particularly meaningful moment for me was the chance to develop an online French curriculum for school boards — a true full-circle experience that connected my personal values with my professional work. That path eventually led me to creating short-form content for teens, a stage of life when French can sometimes lose its appeal in a predominantly anglophone environment.
My motivation today comes from a deep belief that culture and creativity are powerful tools to preserve, celebrate and keep the language vibrant for the next generation.
What advice would you give our students — francophone, anglophone or allophone — who want to build an international or bilingual career path?
RK: My advice is to truly immerse yourself in the languages you want to pursue — live them, not just learn them. Seek out environments where those languages are spoken both as a majority and as a minority; each context reveals something unique and beautiful about how culture and artistry are expressed.
In my own travels, being able to lean on the three languages I speak has allowed me to connect with people in meaningful ways, whether in small daily interactions or in more complex professional situations. Embracing bilingualism or multilingualism opens doors, widens your perspective and gives you the confidence to build a career anywhere in the world.
What does Concordia represent for you today?
RK: Concordia is where I first learned to navigate the world professionally in both French and English. It’s where I gained confidence, found my voice and discovered how much I value storytelling and cultural expression. Today, Concordia still symbolizes openness, creativity and the belief that bilingualism is a strength — values that continue to guide my work.
Discover how out-of-province and French-speaking students at Concordia University transform the Quebec landscape.