Education

Carleton University

September 2013 – June 2017

• Bachelor of Combined Honours in Journalism and Women’s and Gender Studies, minor in political science
• Completed TV and radio courses, including the advanced multimedia and advanced TV workshops
• Proficient with programs such as Tableau, WordPress, Photoshop, Audacity, Adobe Audition, and Final Cut Pro
• Wrote the Carleton University entry for the Maclean’s University Insiders Report (published for two years)

Journalism Experience

CBC News Network: Power & Politics with Vassy Kapelos: Associate Producer

May 2019 – Present

• Areas of interest: provincial and municipal government coverage, climate, health care, Indigneous issues, child care
• Collaborating with other team members to create the best political coverage possible
• Pitching at least two segment ideas per day, finding fresh angles on that day’s most talked-about political topics
• Booking guests and coordinating contact details, including booking cameras
• Researching background information and organizing it into clear, succinct notes for the host
• Developing question lines with the host, ensuring accuracy and balance
• Writing scripts and designing production elements (clips, graphics) to introduce stories in engaging ways
• Pushing content to the Power & Politics social media accounts
• Writing up online stories based on news that was made on the show
• Writing the introduction, editing and uploading the Power & Politics podcast.
• Maintaining a social media presence to share news, mainly Twitter
• Using the Access to Information and Privacy regime to uncover interesting news stories
• Special projects:
  • Produced a series of reporterless profiles on new MPs after the 2019 election
  • Produced a one-hour special holiday 2020 show based on the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Produced a young partisans panel to talk about youth issues during the 2019 and 2021 elections
  • Produced an interview with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in June 2021
  • Produced a regional reporter panel during the 2021 election

The Hill Times: News Reporter, Columnist

September 2017 – Present

• Beats include: the public service, Parliament Hill media, and Parliamentary receptions, among others
• Maintaining a network of sources in the public service and political communities to find exclusive stories
• Using the Access to Information and Privacy regime to uncover interesting news stories
• Working with lawyers when required to ensure stories are accurate and balanced
• Pitching four story ideas per week, finding fresh angles that will not be scooped by daily publications
• Researching, contacting, and interviewing sources to ensure accuracy and balance, attending networking events
• Writing two to four 1,200+ word stories weekly using CP style; including the Civil Circles and Party Central columns, and filing them on deadline for the respective Monday and Wednesday issues
• Writing the occasional daily story if time and news value warranted it, occasionally writing a daily and then following with a longer piece for the newspaper
• Organizing opeds and interviews for  the health policy briefings, wrote stories for all policy briefings for one year
• Incorporating feedback from editors into future stories
• Maintaining a social media presence to share news, mainly Twitter

The Telegraph-Journal/Greater Saint John: General Assignment Reporter, Editorial Intern

May 2017 – August 2017

• Updating website with early morning web hits, writing news briefs, and writing breaking news
• Pitching story ideas, putting in calls to sources to dig up news and break stories
• Writing hard news and feature stories following CP style; working long hours on weekdays and weekends
• Conducting research and finding sources, developing networks and rapport through interviews
• Working on a tight daily deadline to write, edit and submit stories
• Illustrating stories with photography or multimedia, including graphics and video
• Understanding story analytics and using social media to boost viewership

The North Bay Nugget: General Assignment Reporter, Editorial Intern

Summers of 2014, 2015 (May through August each summer)

• Developing and pitching story ideas, working with a team to ensure community coverage
• Writing hard news and feature stories for all sections of the newspaper following CP style
• Finding and interviewing sources, using active listening to ensure accuracy and balance
• Working within a tight daily deadline to write, edit and submit stories, as well as posting stories online
• Illustrating stories with appropriate photography or multimedia
• Updating social media accounts with news stories and moderating comments

The Charlatan: Carleton University’s Weekly Independent Student Newspaper

Reporter (Volunteer), Guest/Summer Section Editor for the News, Opinions and Editorials sections (Paid)

January 2014 – April 2017

• Producing stories for news, sports, arts, national, multimedia, and opinion sections
• Occasionally illustrating stories with own photography
• Pitching editorial ideas and taking notes at editorial staff meetings
• Corresponding with editors and writers to ensure expectations are met
• In-depth reporting on issues including the university’s sexual violence policy and student politics
• Working within a weekly deadline to write, edit, and submit long or short stories following CP style
• Completing layout in InDesign to meet deadlines

CU Journalism School Internships

CBC’s The House: Production Intern

February 21-March 3, 2017

• Contributing to bureau story meetings and finding sources via internet research and social media
• Booking guests and studios for The House (including studio-to-studio interviews)
• Researching and pre-interviewing, referring sources to appropriate programs if need be (Power and Politics)
• Developing background pages and question lines in iNews, learning how radio interviews differ from print
• Editing audio in Dalet, learning how to file in the CBC system
• Creating elements for the website, both written segments and photographs, and sending them back from the field
• Corresponding with producers to ensure clear communication, including a weekly check-in email with supervisor

iPolitics.ca: Editorial Intern

October 2016-December 2016 (interning one day weekly)

• Pitching stories to write with guidance from the editorial team, contributing to story meetings
• Researching, interviewing, and writing stories for the target audience following CP style
• Communicating with editors to produce content, set up photos, and continuously improve stories

Other Work Experience

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics: Core Staff Sales Associate, Social Networker

October 2014 – October 2016

• Keeping the store’s Facebook page up to date with new products or campaigns
• Communicating clearly and positively with team and management

McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada (McKeown Location): Crew Trainer, McCafe Specialist

April 2010- April 2014

• Maintaining high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations

Extracurricular Involvement/Volunteering in University

Merge Robotics, FIRST Team 2706: Awards Mentor

December 2015 – September 2017

• Helping students create marketing strategies, edit videos, write documents, and develop speaking points
• Guiding students on a robotics team, including many with disabilities

FIRST Robotics North Bay District Event: Ambassador

March 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

• Answering questions about robotics for politicians, influencers, and business professionals
• Making FIRST Robotics accessible to everyone through excellent oral communication
• Running social media for the competition from March 28-30, 2019, including mini contests

Individual Awards and Certificates

– McDonald’s Employee Scholarship, June 2013

–  FIRST Dean’s List Finalist Award, April 2013

– Given to the top 126 out of an estimated 45,000 students globally that participate in high school FIRST Robotics for their technical knowledge, leadership skills, and commitment to FIRST Robotics.

– McDonald’s Spatula Award, August 2012

– McDonald’s Employee of the Month, December 2010