By: Zachary Andrade
Masahda Lochan
For all the barriers that are instated in modern journalistic settings, the first salve Masahda Lochan provides is diversity. Working as a recent research assistant under Nicole Blanchett at TMU, the importance of local-driven outlets has proven to be essential; ones which speak from the underserved. “I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of disinterest in the news […] this idea that it doesn’t really cater to [people] or speak about topics that have to do with them. […] As we expand inclusivity and diversity, [it] in turn, creates more sustainability.”
Her perspective on journalism as an agent for social change can be traced to the work Lochan does within Toronto’s The Green Line. This summer, she began a months-long analysis into community-based journalism, initially tabulating the posts run on their various media platforms, then pivoting into what she hopes will be an illuminating portrait of a small Canadian newsroom. Of her initial work at The Green Line, Masahda attributes much of her efforts as a response to the effects of the recently implemented Online News Act. Like many burgeoning independent news startups, The Green Line primarily attracted a following through Instagram- a model which devolved from revelatory to outmoded, seemingly overnight. “They would have a full story that they would publish on their website, and then have a smaller version of that on Instagram. […] Once the news ban occurred, they had to pivot and redo all of their [old] posts.”
Masahda entered in the ban’s wake, tallying every post made on The Green Line’s platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube), documenting every facet from the content of the post to its title, rhetoric, and when applicable, video length. “It did take a lot of work, but it had to be done.” Soon she will begin the next phase of research, where Lochan will act as a fly on the wall in their newsroom. Her observations will seek to document day-to-day operations, be it photoshoots, the environment, or publishing stories.
“I’m in this weird transition space right now where I’m figuring out where I want to go with journalism. […] I know [that] I’m interested in speaking to people […] All of the projects that I’ve done throughout university were feature stories, because I like speaking with specific groups of people and getting to know them over a course of time. So, I feel like if I did stay in journalism, it would be something to do with that.” In a small way, her research acts as an evolved feature piece; itemizing an entity until its intentions become dazzlingly clear.
From our Conversation:
Q: Where do you see the impact of your research being felt?
A: I see it more in a local, regional aspect. […] I’m definitely noticing a shift in how we’re disseminating journalism for youth specifically. […] Away from traditional journalism and more to social media, [like] short clips to get people engaged. In terms of impact, I feel like it will be local, just because the work The Green Line [does].

“I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of disinterest in the news […] this idea that it doesn’t really cater to [people] or speak about topics that have to do with them. […] As we expand inclusivity and diversity, [it] in turn, creates more sustainability.”
Mykenzie Barrera
As new social media platforms begin to overtake and outmode those prior, scholars are tasked with bridging innovation with tradition. Mykenzie Barrera is working to understand the vanguard of digital journalism today; how TikTok transformed from a dance tutorial app to one capable of housing the most versatile media database in history. Her MA thesis is built around the agents of this new form of journalism, particularly how they diverge from a “typical” reporter. “The digital news report that came out last year listed TikTok as a leading source for news […] Now I’m looking at the idea of influencers and journalists and what the crossover is like. Are they using the same aesthetics? The same style? How are they portraying themselves?” She reminds me that not only are these current mediums unprecedented, they are also reshaping understandings of citizen journalism and reliability.
Mykenzie’s thesis work has a direct relationship with her involvement in the Lab. For over a year she has assisted with Elizabeth Dubois’ podcast, Wonks and War Rooms, produced by the PolCommTech Lab. “We interview guests based on some kind of communication theory, or even influencers from our previous season. We’re exploring more political and election-based research as well.” Mykenzie is able to exercise her one true (slightly uncommon) passion: research. “It’s my favourite thing in the world. Elizabeth hands a topic over to me, or one of the other RA’s, we explore the topic and find a kind of theory or research question to talk with our guests about.” She is also responsible for transcribing and annotating episodes before they are published. It’s a community that has dually affirmed her passion for media studies, while finding mentorship in her fellow researchers.
“It’s so great, because as someone that came into this with presentation anxiety, it was incredible to have all the support and constructive feedback. It’s never critical. It’s very ‘you’re doing this, try this next time and see how that feels,’ and it works. They’ve never been wrong.” While this collective of researchers has retained the community that journalism once promised, Barrera is still very much attuned to the industry’s dire condition. “There needs to be more education that will help further journalism in whatever way it’s heading to. […]. It starts with what you’re teaching kids; they’re so impressionable at a young age. Are you going to teach them to go out and practice strong verification practices? We teach kids that rumours are bad, and yet fake news is still everywhere.”
From our Conversation:
Q: Do you see this continued “TikTok journalism” as an innovation or a devolution?
A: It’s really hard to say. It’s just so easy for people to go online, read a news story, and then go out and report it. And I think that’s kind of what the switch is. There’s a difference between those that are actively researching, getting the true stories, working hard to make sure that they are portraying all the sides, and not doing it for personal gain. Because when you think about it, that’s what influencers are. […] There are some people that are doing it because they really want to get to the public one way or another. And I think that is what’s going to dictate if this is a devolution or innovation.

“We teach kids that rumours are bad, and yet fake news is still everywhere.”
Marisa Sittheeamorn
Within the Lab, Marisa Sittheeamorn is a research assistant working virtually on several projects within The Conversation Canada; specifically their Don’t Call Me Resilient, an anti-race podcast for which she had the opportunity to produce an episode. “It was a really cool experience because I got to do research, conduct the pre-interviews, reach out to guests. I also drafted the question line, so that was fun.”
Once the season ended, Marisa pivoted to social media promotion for the podcast, as well as promotional strategies for a retrospective look at a few select episodes. She was also tasked with compiling a list of future producers, as well as possible collaborators already within the sphere of Canadian scholarly media. She both acknowledges her many responsibilities within her projects and notes the stark contrast between The Conversation Canada and other news organizations she’s been a part of. “It’s been really refreshing in the sense that the newsroom in itself is quite diverse. I feel like people all have conversations.”
Now, Marisa is working on a pilot newsletter aimed at promoting The Conversation Canada’s output of critical race journalism. She has acted as a writer-editor; drafting what the initial entries should include to best circulate the content. “Most of the newsletters are quite short- there’s a paragraph introducing, giving it a hook or a current angle. […] There’s been, I think, three editions so far.” Throughout her involvement, be it a social media post, podcast episode, data entry, or newsletters, Marisa understands that there is an impact in the work she is doing, even if it is within the already-existing academic readership. The podcast was featured in an Voices of Change editorial on Apple Podcasts, and the growth on social media has already been felt since she joined. There is a quiet patience to Marisa’s work, designed to be received with equal reflection of harmful complacency.
From our Conversation:
Q: What in media needs to change for a more sustainable model of journalism?
A: I think it boils down to what’s being funded and what resources people have. I feel like with public media, it’s great because you’re getting funding from the state, but then people question whether or not there’s state influence over the news that’s being produced. In private or nonprofit media, a lot of the time you’re also subject to your donors, so I think there needs to be some sort of way to change how media is being funded, or how it can develop its own resources.
I think another thing that needs to change is hierarchy. Especially in Canada, it feels like you have to climb the ladder and hold your tongue until you’re in a position of power to actually be more creative with your work.
And then, obviously, I think there’s a huge diversity issue. Its a very white, old industry. Canada is a melting pot of so many different cultures, countries, and nationalities, so I think until that’s reflected in our media, not much is going to change.

“Canada is a melting pot of so many different cultures, countries, and nationalities, so I think until that’s reflected in our media, not much is going to change.”
Chaimae Chouiekh
Chaimae Chouiekh has come to learn much of the disparities in contemporary journalism can be found in the numbers. She spent the first weeks at the Lab conducting a financial analysis of media outlets in the public and private sector. Her findings were unsurprisingly bleak. “The CBC gets its money from taxes, and it’s something that is not really sustainable because when you have a change in government, then there is a change of funding. […] Private journalism, if you can call it, is basically owned by American hedge funds.” She summates it early on in our conversation; good journalism does not come without paying journalists a sustainable wage.
Quickly, Chaimae pivoted from a project of apparent dread to one of restructuring and inclusivity. Alongside fellow research assistant, Sandrine Jacquot, the two worked to give feedback on the Master of Journalism course, Integrated Journalism. Their aim: to embody a curriculum with the interests of a nationally diverse student body. It’s the project she’s most proud of so far in the lab, attributing much of her excitement to, “do[ing] it with [Sandrine] since she is a Canadian student and I’m an international student. We both brought in our perspectives into the program, and it’s also something that I lived personally as an international student. I just gave all the advice I could and all the resources that I wish I had when I was a first-year student.”
Her third project with the Lab was driven by innovation specifically. Chaimae pored over the journalistic efforts of institutions and nations alike, “Canadian journalism looks a lot into itself, which was crazy to me; that people only care about what’s happening in their neighborhood or in their city. […] Where I come from in Morocco, obviously we’d care about what happens in our country, but whatever happens in the world was also really important.” Chaimae is equipped with both perspectives and demonstrates impressive awareness in how systemic comforts inhibit growth. Her work is continually suggesting, is it enough just to care about our neighbours?
From our Conversation:
Q: What in media needs to change to create a more sustainable model of journalism?
A: First, Canadian media needs a sustainable pipeline of money, and it shouldn’t be based off of the CBC model […] and it shouldn’t be owned by hedge funds. We shouldn’t put all the pressure on the readers [to donate] either.
The second part would be human resources, and that starts with who gets to go into newsrooms and who gets to be a journalist, and how hard or easy we make it for them. […] Everyone drifts away from journalism because there’s no money in it. Also, [having] a diversity of voices and deciding who gets to tell what story. I’ve been in a newsroom this summer where it was not diverse at all, and I’ve seen the impact of that. It doesn’t necessarily have to be diverse in the sense of ethnicity. Sometimes, people just don’t, [for example] own a car. I knew all the problems of transit, but they didn’t, so they would never think of making a story about the SkyTrain putting [someone] in a horrible position!

“Canadian journalism looks a lot into itself, which was crazy to me; that people only care about what’s happening in their neighborhood or in their city. […] Where I come from in Morocco, obviously we’d care about what happens in our country, but whatever happens in the world was also really important.”
Sandrine Jacquot
Sandrine Jacquot is shaping the student journalists of tomorrow- as one herself. In collaboration with research lead, Dr. Mary-Lynn Young, as well as fellow research assistant Chaimae Chouiekh, she undertook an initiative to tailor master’s education to a wider pool of scholars. “Our cohort is a very big mix of domestic and international students. […] It’s pretty fifty-fifty, which is awesome, but that means the learning needs might be a little bit different.” Primarily, the team worked to reshape the Master of Journalism’s course Integrated Journalism, one of the touchstones of the entire curriculum. This involved critically engaging with course material, then supplementing resources with international studies in media education.
“We found that journalism education around the world has become very much homogenized and universalized. […] You may be learning journalism in a country in the Global South, but there’s still a lot of Western influence on that.” One of the proposals included inviting guest speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds and circumstances, in hopes of resonating with the considerable size of international students in the program. She cites the World Journalism Education Council as a vital resource, providing guidance in decolonizing much of an admittedly Westernized curriculum. Still, Sandrine posits that institutional self-awareness is paramount.
Recently, she has begun aiding with new work in the Lab, mostly while preparing for her final year in the Master of Journalism program at UBC. “This work was very much for the local UBC cohort. I would love for it to start here, for incoming students to feel like their experiences are reflected in the teaching. […] I also would love for it to [have] more of a wider impact, in terms of just diversifying journalism and education.” Sandrine is wise enough to know that inclusion at every level of professional journalism is conducive to stories which come to be unique and essential, yet pragmatic in her understanding that these changes are made slowly, first through education.
From our Conversation:
Q: What in media needs to change to create a more sustainable model of journalism?
A: It’s such a unique situation where you have this tension between publicly funded versus private- CBC versus like, the Globe and Mail. It’s very much a business model versus reli[ance] on government funding. […] More senior management positions should go to people with different backgrounds and identities- people of colour, people with differing abilities. I think it’s really important to make journalism more inclusive overall and reflect the population.
But when I think of sustainability, I think of money and funding, and I think that digital is so huge. I think that a big part of the future of journalism is going to be independent journalists on social media, just the person working for themselves. It’s so complicated, I’m still trying to figure out that answer myself as someone who works in that space, and I think there’s no silver bullet.

“We found that journalism education around the world has become very much homogenized and universalized. […] You may be learning journalism in a country in the Global South, but there’s still a lot of Western influence on that.”
Zachary Andrade is a third-year Honours English student at the University of British Columbia. He is interested in arts and culture within journalism, and has written album reviews for Discorder Magazine. Previously, he served as the editor-in-chief of the Steveston-London Secondary Press. His role as Research Assistant is funded by UBC’s Arts University Research Award (AURA).