Elizabeth Howell

Research papers have their special challenges, but here are 10 pieces of advice from Edward Sargent, of the University of Toronto, in Cell Press. One of my favorites is to think visually and begin with the figures you have, even if incomplete, to find the narrative structure for the story of your research. #research #journal #editing #writing #scicomm https://lnkd.in/gVTCSbSQ

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Working with Montreal Serai as a co-editor has been an enlightening experience. Our April issue explores what it means to be united at a time when war and genocide ravage our shared space called Earth. This issue considers both human and nonhuman perspectives, doings and dealings to reimagine a geography of coexistence. Shifting our gaze from humans as creatures with singular authority and autonomy to control spaces and places and to use, abuse and represent nonhumans, we invite our readers to take the “nonhuman turn.” https://lnkd.in/etwCkdfN

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Thankfully, there are still journalists like Jonathan Kay writing and reporting (in #longformjournalism no less!) on the state of journalism in Canada and in particular, how university-driven ideology is ill-preparing #emergingjournalists for the important role they could be serving....if they weren't busy #censoring themselves. This particular story about McMaster University is particularly upsetting but not surprising. When I withdrew funding for a scholarship I created at the #carletonschoolofjournalism it was because I felt the J school had become too driven by ideology, rhetoric, and advocacy, anything but journalism...so this article validated my feelings. In particular, this section in which Kay writes about why the latest crop of journalists are stepping back from hard stories: "....these young journalists have been told that being on the side of angels means believing women, uncritically amplifying the voices of black and Indigenous people, working on your reconciliation, and reciting rainbow mantras like “Trans women are women.” They’ve been told that everyone has their own truth, that reality is subjective, and that believing otherwise is a sign of white privilege or worse. And then, suddenly, they’re immersed in a professional journalistic environment whose traditional posture is one of distrust, of scepticism, of asking hard questions, of demanding proof, of taking a story wherever it leads you—and, most importantly, of reporting objective facts that may in some cases run afoul of people’s subjective feelings. Which is to say that the professional qualities required of a good investigative reporter are now completely at odds with the values that many college graduates come to the job market with. The result can be a profound sense of cognitive dissonance, and the only way to avoid that dissonance is to walk away from stories that are ideologically off-message." #journalism

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How can you make a survey when you don't have resources? Know your product. Know why it exists and what you're trying to do. Stick to that tone. Then talk to people like they're people. Storytelling. That's just one part. I know people who are really, really good at survey design and agonise over things like structure and flow. We're lucky in that The Continent News has a distinct voice. This helps us when we might not have the in-house skills, or budget, for better survey tools. Voice is key.

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Why are five Canadian news media organizations suing OpenAI - and might The Globe and Mail use AI to offer audiences more ways to consume news in the near and near-ish future? My December column looks at all of the above: https://lnkd.in/g9bzrZMn

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Editing pet peeve: the goofy obsession with the Oxford comma. Oxford enthusiasts—whom I often refer to as "Oxfordnistas"—insist that the serial comma is the ultimate arbiter of clarity and slayer of ambiguity. And they demonstrate this overstated power through a series of reductionist—albeit humorous—memes. Below on the left is one such example. Again, this meme assuredly suggests a moment where a lack of a serial comma may confuse readers. Rather than express a list of the three, the Oxford-less sentence seems to imply an appositive suggesting the exotic dancers are, in fact, Stalin and JFK. But what happens if you change strippers (plural) to stripper (singular). One good contrived strawman argument deserves another, right? On the right is the counterpoint. Here, the sentence with the Oxford comma introduces ambiguity. Is that JFK on stage three collecting singles, or is somebody else? The trick is simple: When in doubt, rewrite. "We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers." See how this is clearly a list of three? See how I didn't need the comma to do so? Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic convention, so it is a matter of personal preference. You can also write, "We invited JFK, Stalin, and the strippers." That *also* works. Either way, stop pretending that your prescriptivist take on the Oxford comma is holy writ. #Oxfordcomma

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NEW opinion piece at JSFP: A Solution Focused Approach in Times of War: Views From the Inside by Victoria Spashchenko. Abstract In this article, I will be sharing my personal and professional experience of applying a Solution Focused Approach (SFA) during the war in my country. I will consider what worked and what was difficult, try to summarise the resilient strategies of Ukrainians, highlight (not for the first time) the power of a single question and speculate if there are naturally solution focused people and countries. Spashchenko, V. (2024). A Solution Focused Approach in Times of War: Views From the Inside. Journal of Solution Focused Practices, 8(1). https://lnkd.in/e34Y_fJu Read and download the full piece on the JSFP website.

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Dear #Canadian #journalists and #editors - I'm an entry/mid-level journalist with a poli sci degree from McGill and extensive content writing exp. I have a LOT to say about policy, philosophy, and int'l affairs but have no idea who to connect with for #pitches. Other than news reporting, most big name pubs use big name authors for this topic. Indie pubs, who are honestly doing the heavy lifting these days, seem to have mostly (volunteer?) staff #writers. Any tips on where to find an in for writing about Canadian #politics? I have clips in The Globe and Mail and Reader's Digest, with lots of extra experience writing long-form, research, and interview-heavy pieces. TY!

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I’m going on strike for secure jobs and to protect the public’s right to quality journalism. Meanwhile, our CEO is at the Olympics. #donttorchjournalism We are fighting for a pay rise that keeps pace with the cost of living, important clauses about consultation and transparency about any use of AI, the diversity of our newsrooms, and other important claims. None of us want to be on strike. We are proud and passionate to work at the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times, WAToday and The Australian Financial Review. We are doing this because we care about quality journalism. Our wages have gone backwards in recent years. We took a zero per cent pay rise in the pandemic because of the economic uncertainty The company turned a profit anyway and paid out dividends to shareholders. It's time for catch-up. We believe in our company's strategy to build a digital subscription model. That's why you see an increasing number of stories behind the paywall. The good news is it is working. Our digital subscriptions have grown, offsetting the advertising decline. Best way to keep it growing is to invest in journalists by giving us a decent pay rise and not cutting 70-90 jobs. Nine Publishing, the division that publishes the former Fairfax papers like SMH, is a "really profitable business" according to our execs. They've said without the job cuts it would still be profitable, just not quite as profitable. They say this is about revenue decline because of Meta pulling out of the news code and the slump in ad revenue. Hmm, nothing to do with the Nine share price, which has tanked in part because of the revelations of sexual misconduct and bullying in the TV division? Most share analysts believe Nine shares are under-valued, and the ad market will rebound. Cutting 70-90 jobs from a profitable division, and risking the digital subs strategy, seems like an own goal. I feel for my colleagues on strike, who'll lose pay over this, including me. I feel for my colleagues in exempt positions struggling to put out the news. I feel for my colleagues in Paris longing to bring you the best Olympics coverage, bar none. This is not fun. We decided it was necessary. If you care about quality journalism, we need your support. This is how: 1. Please sign and share the petition. https://lnkd.in/ghWBz396 2. Until 11am AEST on Wednesday, July 31 or unless the strike ends sooner, don’t cross the virtual picket line. That means do not click on any articles from our mastheads or buy the papers. (I filed stories before the strike action that may well run this weekend, but I will share them when I return to work!) 3. If you can afford it, please donate to support the more vulnerable workers who are giving up their pay while on strike. https://lnkd.in/gc6KCKQC 4. When all this is over, and again if you can afford it, please subscribe. It's the best way to support quality journalism.

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New pub: Myths of Origins: Literary and Cultural Patterns Myths of Origins explores the timeless power of origin myths in literature, spanning from ancient texts to contemporary works. This collection of essays delves into the six foundational models of beginnings in Western literature, examining how these frameworks shape narratives across eras. https://lnkd.in/eXDG9Cgu

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Ok, so I'm going in to work today. It's year 45 for me, if you include grad-school teaching. Throughout my career, I've engaged in loads of research. And, I've taught the methods course at the grad level repeatedly, sometimes as a survey but later mostly as a deep dive into qualitative work. So, as the end of my career approaches, I wanted to boil it all down into a solid undergraduate course on research methods. Now I realize what I've done here is ambitious for undergrads, but I've always been inspired by Mike Rose's argument that students will rise to the level you set. Now what I've produced this summer isn't perfect. I'll keep working on it....But still I wanted to share it with you. Moving forward I need to do more with the idea of "creatives/designers" as a major methodological camp. I've made this move to make the course welcoming to creative writing students and lit students. At worst, it's good bedtime reading: it can put you to sleep. At best, you can use pieces or whatever you want from my effort. Here's the URL to the syllabus: https://lnkd.in/eiy_ECeW And here's the URL to the list of full assignments: https://lnkd.in/e3VP3E4x Oh, before closing, I should thank Jason Tham for his excellent list of ptc journals, which forms the backbone and inspiration for this course. What better way to learn the values of a field than engage in rhetorical analysis of its journals?

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The co-authored op-ed addresses the rising threat of #extremism affecting #Canadian #unions and their over-focus on international conflicts rather than domestic labour issues. This piece partly reflects my personal experiences, which have given me insights into unions' dynamics. While not centred on #digital #currency or #AI #policy (briefly mentioned in the context of failing to prepare for job transitions), the op-ed highlights a shift in union priorities that deserves broader attention. It raises questions about the priorities of future labour representation and local #workforce needs. "Unions have become entangled in divisive international conflicts, often siding with anti-Canadian and anti-democratic ideologies." For non-Canadian readers: It's worth noting that in many cases, Canadian employees are required to pay union dues, making this shift in focus particularly concerning. CC: B'nai Brith Canada

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