Frequently asked questions

Due to my background in Canadian news, people sometimes ask me what media outlet they should rely on to get their news.  

My answer is, the best news source is all the sources together.  The more sources you consult, the more diversity of voices you receive.  It can be narrowing to get your information from a single publisher.  

But, I hasten to add, a certain amount of media literacy is in order: always remember who is delivering your news.  A for-profit corporation like CTV where I have worked or the Globe and Mail, for example, will underpin its coverage with premises in line with their corporate interests, while a crown corporation like CBC or TVO will begin from a perspective from within government (and, remember the CBC also sells ads).  Some organizations are nonprofit like the Canadian Press, but that, too, invites some prejudice.  Bias of some kind is the effect of such perspectives, and it is never totally avoidable, although some news organizations attempt to be "fair" or "objective" with varying results.  Concepts like fairness are subjective.  As my first-year-university journalism professor said, keep a properly calibrated BS detector! 

Beware also of misinformation and disinformation, including sly new technologies like deepfakes, which are endemic on social media.  Likewise, beware of loaded and mis-interpretative opinions shared by users, and be aware that many messages are in fact bots.

Finally, beware of echo chambers, both those of your own creation from only selecting sources that you feel agree with your world view, and those imposed by social-media algorithms that support your political leanings and sensationalize opposing views.  Rather, expose yourself to different perspectives and keep your mind open.

Yes, but please understand how much work a podcast is.  You wish to produce a half-hour broadcast weekly, and this constitutes one entire full-time job, at least.  You must ideate, plan, write, perhaps chase interviews, record, produce, publish, and market.  The endeavour also requires equipment, and a budget.  The vast majory of people and organizations underestimate the resources involved in a professional or even semi-professional podcast, and they tend to abandon their plans when they learn what is required.  On the other hand, you may be especially serious, in which case, with appropriate resources, I can help.

I presently have no official political party affiliation.  I have, in the past, held membership in the New Democratic Party of Canada.

I speak French as a second language.  As I continue to work on my French skills, I am presently not able to offer publishable French-language communications material, nor am I able to provide translation services.

I would need to apply for such a clearance and I'm willing to do so.  Presently, I don't have an active security clearance for the Government of Canada.

I am an independent contractor offering freelance and traditional employee services.  I am neither incorporated, nor a full-service agency.  As such, I don't have a GST number.  I am a Canadian Citizen qualified to work for a Canadian employer.

I have professional accounts on Linkedin, Voices.com, and Threads.  All of my social links and contact information is brought together into my Linktree, where you can also access a recent copy of my resume.

My experience and training includes social media management and I'm happy to lend my professional skills to social media programs.

In order to not appear as though I'm claiming to have produced somebody else's work, I have redacted some photography which I did not take.  The associated articles, headlines, decks, and sidebars are written by me.

No.

No. 

No.