Blogging, Investigative Journalism, and Opinion Editorials
In addition to peer-reviewed academic research, I very much enjoy writing projects that transcend the boundaries of the academic / non-academic world. Much of this research and writing focuses on issues of free expression, academic freedom, public accountability and transparency, the state of public discourse, and the right to know. More recently, I've been using some of my research skills gleaned from the academic world and using them to do freelance investigative journalism.
I'm a blogger at the Centre for Free Expression at Ryerson University and publish an investigative journalism project focused on my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, ON. The latter project takes the form of a newsletter on Substack - titled 'Breaking the Taboo' - and features both individual articles and in-depth investigative series.
You can find a selected assortment of my blog posts, investigative reports, and opinion editorials below. These links don't include my newsletter - you can see those posts in the link above, where you can also subscribe and support local investigative journalism in the public interest!
I'm a blogger at the Centre for Free Expression at Ryerson University and publish an investigative journalism project focused on my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, ON. The latter project takes the form of a newsletter on Substack - titled 'Breaking the Taboo' - and features both individual articles and in-depth investigative series.
You can find a selected assortment of my blog posts, investigative reports, and opinion editorials below. These links don't include my newsletter - you can see those posts in the link above, where you can also subscribe and support local investigative journalism in the public interest!
Published Work
2023. "In a drug-abuse epidemic, where does problem gambling stand?" Sault This Week. August 21.
2023. "Timothy Mitchell Lawsuit Against Sault Police Quietly Ends." Sault This Week. July 17.
2023. "Ontario Must Make Judicial Appointments Process More Accountable." Centre for Free Expression. June 26.
2023. "Sault PUC Doesn't Get High Marks for Transparency." Sault This Week. June 20.
2023. "Tenacity of Sault's Karen Pietkiewicz Moved Gov't to Action." Sault This Week. April 24.
2023. "Steel Town (Still) Down?" Sault This Week. April 10.
2023. "Regulators Cut A Deal with Ontario Steel Mill Over Carcinogens." Canada's National Observer. March 15.
2022. "The Crazy Train of Corporate Welfare." Sault This Week. January 31.
2022. "Shoemaker Reflects on Campaign Success, Current Priorities." Sault This Week. December 30.
2022. "Neighbours Have Their Say on Formal Hospital Site." Sault This Week. December 19.
2022. "Rick Webb Reflects on His Time on Police Services Board." Sault This Week. November 7.
2022. "Industrial Pollution Hinders Development at Mill Market Site." Sault This Week. October 3.
2022. "Sault Ste. Marie's War on the Poor." Sault This Week. August 30.
2022. "Free Expression Walks Into a Bar, Part 2: How Stand-up Comedy Became the Target of Censorship." Centre for Free Expression. June 24.
2022. "The Importance of Free Expression." Sault This Week. June 20.
2022. "Details Few About Cyberattack Against Sault Police." Sault This Week. June 13.
2022. "Laurentian University Debacle Should Be An Election Issue." Sault This Week. May 22.
2022. "What Killed the Downtown? Reflections on 'Plazagate.'" Sault This Week. May 10.
2022. "ASI Community Liaison Rep Resigns." Sault This Week. May 3.
2022. "PUC Plan Could Aid Noront Project." Sault This Week. April 12.
2022. "Free Expression Walks into a Bar: The Case of Mike Ward and the Future of Canadian Comedy: Part 1." Centre for Free Expression. March 28.
2022. "To Be Informed." Sault This Week. March 8.
2022. "Police Board Mix Under New Rules to Reflect Community." Sault This Week. February 28.
2022. "Where We Go From Here: The Meaning of the Ottawa Trucker Protest." Sault This Week. February 21.
2022. "Algoma Steel Charged for Alleged Wastewater Discharge to St. Mary's River." Soo Today. February 23.
2022. "Environment Ministry Unlikely to Sanction Algoma Steel." Sault This Week. February 7.
2022. "What's in the Air?" Sault This Week. January 18.
2022. "Finding Silver Inside the Cloud." Sault This Week. January 4.
2021. "Local Anti-vaxxers Adopt More Confrontational Stance." Sault This Week. December 21.
2021. "Life Without Laurentian: The Case for (Northern) Higher Education." Sault Online. April 9.
2021. "To which normal should we return?" Sault Online. March 13.
2021. "What do you think about Trump?" Sault Online. March 6.
2021. "Free Expression on Campus: Assessing the Alberta Ministerial Directive." Centre for Free Expression. March 25.
2020. “The Complexity of Protecting Free Speech on Campus.” Policy Options. January 10.
2020. “Freedom of Information, Universities & Transparency: Lessons from Emily Eaton and the University of Regina.” Centre for Free Expression. November 12.
2020. “Freedom of Expression, Misinformation, and Anti-vaxxers: The Right Thing to Do is Not Obvious.” Centre for Free Expression. March 25.
2020. “Gender-critical Views No Grounds for Stifling Academic Freedom.” Edmonton Journal. June 13.
2019. “UCP Promises Would Imperil Free Speech.” Edmonton Journal. May 14.
2023. "Timothy Mitchell Lawsuit Against Sault Police Quietly Ends." Sault This Week. July 17.
2023. "Ontario Must Make Judicial Appointments Process More Accountable." Centre for Free Expression. June 26.
2023. "Sault PUC Doesn't Get High Marks for Transparency." Sault This Week. June 20.
2023. "Tenacity of Sault's Karen Pietkiewicz Moved Gov't to Action." Sault This Week. April 24.
2023. "Steel Town (Still) Down?" Sault This Week. April 10.
2023. "Regulators Cut A Deal with Ontario Steel Mill Over Carcinogens." Canada's National Observer. March 15.
2022. "The Crazy Train of Corporate Welfare." Sault This Week. January 31.
2022. "Shoemaker Reflects on Campaign Success, Current Priorities." Sault This Week. December 30.
2022. "Neighbours Have Their Say on Formal Hospital Site." Sault This Week. December 19.
2022. "Rick Webb Reflects on His Time on Police Services Board." Sault This Week. November 7.
2022. "Industrial Pollution Hinders Development at Mill Market Site." Sault This Week. October 3.
2022. "Sault Ste. Marie's War on the Poor." Sault This Week. August 30.
2022. "Free Expression Walks Into a Bar, Part 2: How Stand-up Comedy Became the Target of Censorship." Centre for Free Expression. June 24.
2022. "The Importance of Free Expression." Sault This Week. June 20.
2022. "Details Few About Cyberattack Against Sault Police." Sault This Week. June 13.
2022. "Laurentian University Debacle Should Be An Election Issue." Sault This Week. May 22.
2022. "What Killed the Downtown? Reflections on 'Plazagate.'" Sault This Week. May 10.
2022. "ASI Community Liaison Rep Resigns." Sault This Week. May 3.
2022. "PUC Plan Could Aid Noront Project." Sault This Week. April 12.
2022. "Free Expression Walks into a Bar: The Case of Mike Ward and the Future of Canadian Comedy: Part 1." Centre for Free Expression. March 28.
2022. "To Be Informed." Sault This Week. March 8.
2022. "Police Board Mix Under New Rules to Reflect Community." Sault This Week. February 28.
2022. "Where We Go From Here: The Meaning of the Ottawa Trucker Protest." Sault This Week. February 21.
2022. "Algoma Steel Charged for Alleged Wastewater Discharge to St. Mary's River." Soo Today. February 23.
2022. "Environment Ministry Unlikely to Sanction Algoma Steel." Sault This Week. February 7.
2022. "What's in the Air?" Sault This Week. January 18.
2022. "Finding Silver Inside the Cloud." Sault This Week. January 4.
2021. "Local Anti-vaxxers Adopt More Confrontational Stance." Sault This Week. December 21.
2021. "Life Without Laurentian: The Case for (Northern) Higher Education." Sault Online. April 9.
2021. "To which normal should we return?" Sault Online. March 13.
2021. "What do you think about Trump?" Sault Online. March 6.
2021. "Free Expression on Campus: Assessing the Alberta Ministerial Directive." Centre for Free Expression. March 25.
2020. “The Complexity of Protecting Free Speech on Campus.” Policy Options. January 10.
2020. “Freedom of Information, Universities & Transparency: Lessons from Emily Eaton and the University of Regina.” Centre for Free Expression. November 12.
2020. “Freedom of Expression, Misinformation, and Anti-vaxxers: The Right Thing to Do is Not Obvious.” Centre for Free Expression. March 25.
2020. “Gender-critical Views No Grounds for Stifling Academic Freedom.” Edmonton Journal. June 13.
2019. “UCP Promises Would Imperil Free Speech.” Edmonton Journal. May 14.
