This is a bildungsroman, which means that the story is mostly focused on the transformation of Lee's character through time. At the beginning of the novel, he finds himself feeling suspicious and unimpressive for his interests in his hot roommate, the actress, but by the end, he isn't focused so much on his own sexual prowess or even his self-esteem. Instead, he focuses on the craft of writing as an avenue for growth.
The purpose of the book is not to explain the plot of the young man's life, but rather, it is a portrait of how the adult person was born from the adolescent person that Lee is at the beginning. He matures as he learns about tragedy as a reporter, and his idea of writing becomes more pragmatic and tactical, instead of being ambient and romantic. He is not a struggling artist, he is a craftsman with a craft.
The reporting itself serves the novel as a symbol too, because it illustrates Lee's ultimate goal, which is learning. The reporting is mostly about getting a good, true impression of events, and capturing that essence quickly. That role is very similar in nature to what he is already forced to do by living in a new city, because everything in Toronto is new to him, and because his opinions about life have to be informed by his community, which involves quiet observation and learning.
