“I hate journalists. There is nothing in them but tittering jeering emptiness. They have all made what Dante calls the Great Refusal. . . . The shallowest people on the ridge of the earth.”
— William Butler Yeats
Guilty as charged! I am a former freelance journalist whose work was featured in a variety of print and web publications between 2002 and 2010. What follows is a thumbnail sketch of my activity during this time.
Most notably, I spent five years writing for Hamilton’s weekly alternative paper View Magazine, where I contributed articles on political, social and environmental issues. In addition to View, my writing was frequently featured in the Kitchener-Waterloo Echo and Pulse Niagara, reaching readers throughout the Golden Horseshoe. I also contributed celebrity profiles and media reviews to the nationally published Inside Entertainment.
At the height of my career, my work was read by over two million readers each month. In addition to writing, I guest lectured at Mohawk College on the writing process, where I instructed continuing education students on the best way to get a story from idea to print.
Over the years, I interviewed leading academics, award-winning artists, and Canada’s top politicians. Some highlights include one-on-one conversations with Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May, author and technology activist Cory Doctorow, and Grammy Award-winning musician PJ Harvey.
I also wrote a blog called Toronto Vegetarian which attempted to make vegetarianism accessible to vegetarians and those sympathetic to a plant-based lifestyle. My perspective on vegetarian issues was sought out by both academics and the media in connection with this endeavor. My current blog is Invocatio, which details my experiences as a religious studies student interested in Western esotericism.
My work has been featured in numerous online magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and corporate communications. However, all told, my biggest claim to fame is having my work cited on Wikipedia.