Canadians With Story Tips - Public Accountability Investigations

18 months ago, I did the thing I promised myself I would never do again (at least for a long time). After finishing my MSc in International Relations at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) I promised myself I would have a much needed break from studying. I had been a student in higher education for 5 years, without a break, at this point. So, I went and dipped my toes back into the NGO sector (this time in Australia). I spent a rewarding year as a Research Manager but couldn't shake the feeling that I was straying away from my true love: writing. I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. When I was a child, I used to subject my poor family to my monthly newspapers (god knows how much of my mum's money I spent on printer ink). At one point, I even roped my grandma into being my lifestyle columnist. When I started my undergraduate degree six years ago (!!) I discovered my love for political journalism, covering US politics and elections for the University of Warwick's Perspectives magazine. Then, during my master's, I worked for The International Risk Podcast, producing and writing stories on a range of topics from conflict-related sexual violence to the EU's evasion of sanctions on Russian oil (a story that recently became full circle for me as I exposed the same loophole in Canada for Canada's National Observer). All of this is to say, that when I was feeling disconnected from writing last year and I saw SOAS University of London offering an MA in Investigative and Human Rights Journalism, I very quickly broke my promise to myself. It was the best thing I could have done. In the last year, I have covered FOI-led investigations into Scottish universities' freedom of speech policies, LinkedIn's gender problem, Norway's funding of anti-right sectors in Malawi, Canada's oil loophole and many, many more. I have reported from the ground across Canada and been featured in prominent Canadian and Australian outlets. I have established myself as a freelancer in Toronto whilst continuing my studies from afar. So, as I am about to re-enrol for my final year at SOAS, I am thrilled to have officially finished my first year with a distinction grade across data, visual and investigative journalism. I am excited for the year to come and ready to get stuck into more public accountability stories. If you are based in Canada and have any story tips, please send them my way. Alternatively, if you are an editor with room for contributions, I would love to hear from you!