A few years later, he purchased Le Guide du Nord, which marked the beginning of one of the most important media companies in French Canada.
After selling Unimédia to Conrad Black in 1987, he launched one of the most prominent private foundations in Québec, Fondation Jacques Francoeur.
This foundation is devoted to funding charities that provide relief for the needy, as well as organizations that promote education.
[3] Jacques Francœur also encouraged social and artistic projects for the less fortunate, while granting scholarships for Québec journalists.
He was an executive member of the International Press Institute in London, and from 1982 until 1990 he served on the board of directors of the American Association of Newspaper Editors.