Popplewell’s article was published online by The Walrus on April 15 and is slated to be the cover article in the June edition of the prestigious magazine.

Journalism professor Brett Popplewell on the ground in Nuuk, Greenland.

Popplewell travelled in February to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and his feature chronicles how local residents were bracing for invasion.

鈥淭he implausible threat of an American invasion had transformed the quiet Arctic city of Nuuk into an unlikely stage for a global showdown,鈥� Popplewell says. The remote community had become 鈥渁 rallying point for NATO troops and international diplomats all trying to preserve the rules-bound world order.鈥�

Popplewell is an associate professor of journalism at 杏吧原创 and the bestselling author of Outsider: An Old Man, a Mountain, and the Search for a Hidden Past. A contributing writer for The Walrus, he has also written for听Bloomberg, Businessweek,听Mother Jones, the听Globe and Mail, the听Toronto Star,听Sportsnet, and听惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚, among other publications.

On top of his full-time workload as a faculty member in the School of Journalism and Communication, Popplewell is often out in the field as a reporter. He was intrigued by the unfolding situation in Greenland and convinced The Walrus to commission his report.

鈥淲hat struck me most from my trip was how deeply Trump鈥檚 threats had unsettled local residents,鈥� Popplewell said. 鈥淧eople were on edge. Several told me they鈥檇 drawn up escape plans to Canada and elsewhere.

鈥淭he longer I spent on the ground, the more I understood just how personally the annexation threats had hit people. But more than that, I was struck by the willingness many had to share their stories in the hope that doing so might help shape their island鈥檚 fate. I hope this reporting will add some clarity to this continuing puzzle.鈥�

And across close to five decades as a journalist with the CBC and a journalism professor at 杏吧原创 University, he was a no-nonsense mentor to generations of young journalists.

Alboim died of heart failure on February 8, 2026, at the age of 78.

Elly Alboim taught journalism at 杏吧原创 since 1980, training hundreds of students in television and political reporting. (Earnscliffe photo)

Within hours of Alboim鈥檚 passing, news spread literally around the world and tributes began to pour in.

Alboim had an extraordinary impact on Canadian journalism and political life in 45 years spent teaching the subject to undergraduates and masters students at 杏吧原创, 23 years at CBC Television News and another 32 years at Earnscliffe Strategies.

Most of his time at the CBC, from 1970 to 1993, was spent as the network鈥檚 Parliamentary Bureau Chief in Ottawa. Beginning in 1977 as Bureau Chief, he oversaw CBC鈥檚 coverage of some of the most important events shaping Canadian politics for the past half-century. That included four federal election campaigns, including Joe Clark鈥檚 victory in 1979, Pierre Trudeau鈥檚 return in 1980 and Brian Mulroney鈥檚 tenure from 1984 to 1993. His last event leading CBC鈥檚 political coverage was the Progressive Conservative convention that chose Kim Campbell as leader in 1993.

His insights helped shape CBC TV News reporting on everything from the 1980 Quebec referendum to the Trudeau government鈥檚 National Energy Program, Canada-United States free trade negotiations and the rise and fall of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords.

鈥淓lly had a huge impact in so many ways and in so many fields,鈥� said Peter Mansbridge, the CBC鈥檚 longtime anchor and chief political editor.听 鈥淗e impacted every journalist who passed his way, both in the Ottawa bureau he so cherished, and at 杏吧原创 with the impact he had on generations of journalists who learned the skills he taught.

鈥淏ut he was more than a journalist, teacher and leader, he was a mentor that so many depended on to guide them.听 I was one of those and still live a life that benefited from the lessons he taught me.听 We were also friends.听 Our kids grew up together.听 Summered together.听 My lasting memories will be of swimming together, campfires together and Elly, yes, crusty old Elly, singing听show tunes under a full moon.鈥�

While still at CBC, Alboim began to teach TV news and political reporting at 杏吧原创 in 1980 and has been a mentor to hundreds of students. He was succeeded as Bureau Chief by Chris Waddell, who would later join Alboim teaching journalism at 杏吧原创.

鈥淓lly was a huge presence at CBC News for more than two decades. The things he taught so many at CBC had a continuing impact in the decades after he left the public broadcaster through the successes in the careers of so many journalists who spent time reporting from the CBC鈥檚 parliamentary bureau under his leadership,鈥� said Waddell, professor emeritus at 杏吧原创.

After leaving the CBC in the fall of 1993, Alboim played a key role at Earnscliffe providing public opinion research and analysis as well as public policy and strategic communications advice to federal government departments and corporations dealing with government. Much of his work involved helping shape the content and communications around federal budgets. He was also a senior advisor to Paul Martin during his years as federal Finance Minister and Prime Minster. Alboim also ran debate preparations for Liberal leader St茅phane Dion and Ontario premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne.

Colleagues have fond memories of the irascible Alboim, who would often remain silent throughout an hour-long faculty meeting, then finally look up from his BlackBerry to succinctly summarize the entire discussion and suggest a way forward. And he was almost always right.

鈥�I had enormous respect for Elly,鈥� said longtime 杏吧原创 journalism colleague Mary McGuire, who worked with Alboim for nearly 30 years. 鈥淗e was incredibly smart, intimidatingly so at times. But his advice to us all, especially about big picture issues, could be so valuable,鈥� McGuire said.

鈥淎nd yes, while he could be crusty, he could also be incredibly kind. When I retired, he wrote me a note outlining what he saw as my valuable contributions to the school. I was so moved by it and still treasure it.鈥�

Students like fourth-year Journalism undergrad Emma McGrath appreciated Alboim鈥檚 direct style. 鈥淲hile he was an unconventional teacher, I appreciated his no-frills style,鈥欌�� McGrath said. 鈥淭here was no wasting time on things that were not important, but he was always ready with incisive answers to any questions sent his way,鈥� said McGrath, who took political reporting with Alboim in the fall term and signed up right away to take this term鈥檚 class on political communication. 鈥淚 feel very fortunate to听have been one of his students,鈥� McGrath said.

The current head of 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program, Allan Thompson, was a student in Alboim鈥檚 TV reporting class in 1984 and then a colleague at 杏吧原创 for two decades.

鈥淵ou keep hearing that word, crusty. Yes, he had that Jonah Jamieson quality for sure, right down to the cigar. But don鈥檛 be fooled. Elly was a gem, a brilliant mind, a terrific editor and a tireless mentor to our students,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淔rom his hospital bed on Friday, he was sending email messages to make arrangements for his class. It is difficult to imagine 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program without Elly.鈥�

Alboim, who was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, leaves his wife Kathy Alboim, three children and seven grandchildren.

The family is holding a visitation, celebration of life and reception in the atrium of Richcraft Hall, on the 杏吧原创 University campus on Sunday, March 22. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m., the celebration of life from 11 a.m. to noon and the reception thereafter.

Please consider making a donation to a scholarship fund being established at the 杏吧原创 University School of Journalism and Communication in Elly’s honour (), or, a donation in Elly’s name to support the Cardiac Care Unit at the General campus of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (), in thanks for the exceptionally kind and diligent care that he received in his final days.

听

The latest issue of CI/TC, titled 鈥淭he Uneasy State of Canada-U.S. Relations,鈥� features essays on the hot topic from a host of distinguished contributors, including University of Waterloo historian John English, McGill University political scientist Debra Thompson and Canada-U.S. relations specialist Colin Robertson, a former high-ranking Canadian diplomat.

A highlight of the collection is a satirical essay by 杏吧原创 adjunct journalism professor Andrew Cohen, author of several books about Canadian and American political history. The former Washington correspondent for the Globe and Mail advances a modest proposal in the article titled 鈥淎n Appeal to Donald Trump: Join Canada!鈥�

The other contributors are University of Toronto international affairs expert Janice Stein, who shared her thoughts on the crisis in Canada-U.S. relations in an interview with Boswell; Edward Greenspon, co-chair of Deloitte鈥檚 Future of Canada Centre, former president of the Public Policy Forum and former editor-in-chief of the Globe and Mail; Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute president Jack Jedwab; and former U.S. diplomat David Rovinsky, secretary of the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States.

In his introductory essay, 鈥淭rying to Make Sense of a Disorienting Moment in the History of Canada-U.S. Relations,鈥� Boswell reflected on the stark contrast between the current state of tension along the border and the memorable 鈥渟houlder to shoulder鈥� posture struck by the two countries in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001.

鈥淣ow, here in early 2025, a dark cloud of animosity hangs over the 49th parallel. Hockey metaphors abound 鈥� 鈥渨e won鈥檛 back down from a fight鈥� 鈥� American-made produce is shunned at grocery stores and snowbirds in record numbers didn鈥檛 flock to Florida, while others flew home early,鈥� Boswell writes. 鈥淭here is widespread agreement, despite the bump in national pride, that this is not good. And there is widespread dismay that the U.S president could so quickly transform Canada鈥檚 longstanding friendship with the U.S. (despite occasional differences) into a state of suspicion and even fear.鈥�

Randy Boswell

Boswell, who developed a unique 鈥渉istory-news鈥� beat as a senior national reporter with Postmedia News before joining 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism faculty full-time in 2012, has edited more than a dozen other Canadian Issues essay collections since then. The publications have included deep dives by high-profile contributors on topics such as Canada鈥檚 immigration history, the challenge of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and competing approaches to the remembrance of war.

The latest edition of Canadian Issues was formally launched July 3 with an online panel discussion moderated by Boswell and featuring contributors Stein, Greenspon and Jedwab, as well as Carlo Dade, director of International Policy in the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.

includes almost 250 academics, artists, and professionals from across a wide range of disciplines. Other honourees elected in 2025 include filmmaker Ava Duvernay, news anchor Anderson Cooper, feminist writer Gloria Steinem, and World Central Kitchen Founder Jos茅 Andres.

鈥淏eing inducted into the Academy is a surprise and truly an honor,鈥� McCue said. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent my career striving to ensure Indigenous voices are better represented in media in Canada and around the world. To have that work recognized by such a prestigious institution is a reminder that amplifying journalism in Indigenous communities is not only necessary but deeply valued.鈥�

Duncan McCue is an award-winning journalist and advocate. As a broadcaster, he spent over two decades with CBC News, where he hosted CBC Radio One鈥檚 Cross Country Checkup, acted as a correspondent for The National, and drove the production of the . He is also the author of (2022).

Since joining the School of Journalism and Communication in 2023, McCue has been focused on changing the way Indigenous stories are told in Canadian media. His 鈥淩eporting in Indigenous Communities鈥� course teaches future journalists how to share Indigenous stories with a focus on relationship building and connection to Indigenous communities.

He is also the Director and Founder of the Certificate in Journalism in Indigenous Communities, an innovative new program designed to equip Indigenous youth with the tools to and knowledge to tell strong journalistic stories both by and about Indigenous people. The Certificate, which is a collaboration between 杏吧原创 University, FNTI, and Kenjgewin Teg, will welcome its first students in September of 2025.

McCue speaks at a launch event for the Certificate in Journalism in Indigenous Communities earlier this year.

杏吧原创 the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Founded in 1780 during the American Revolution, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences was established both to honor intellectual excellence and to convene leaders from a wide variety of professions and disciplines to collaboratively address major issues and discuss new ideas. Early members of the Academy included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.

Black on the Ballot, an event hosted by 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 School of Journalism and Communication in collaboration with the Department of Political Science, featured not only a celebration of Black History Month, but an in-depth discussion about the experiences of Black Canadians in public life.听

Black on the Ballot panelists, from left: Balarama Holness, Garvia Bailey, Nana Aba Duncan (Associate Professor, Journalism), Angela Simmonds, Erin Tolley (Associate Professor, Political Science)

鈥淭he stories you hear tonight reflect a broader narrative about Black experiences in professional spaces and public life,鈥� said Journalism Professor , the evening鈥檚 moderator and director of the Mary Ann Shadd Centre for Journalism and Belonging. “What鈥檚 important is that this work moves us from being subjects of others’ stories to being the authors of our own narratives.鈥�听

The event, which took place Tuesday February 11, featured a panel discussion with , the founder of Montreal in Action and Mouvement Montr茅al; , a former MLA and Nova Scotia鈥檚 first Black Deputy Speaker; and , co-founder of Media Girlfriends and producer of the .听

The event also included welcoming remarks from 杏吧原创 President Wisdom Tettey and Political Science Professor , the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race & Inclusive Politics.听听

杏吧原创 University President Dr. Wisdom Tettey delivers opening remarks.

Prior to the panel discussion, Tolley shared highlights from her , which was drawn from 鈥�archival research, a national survey, and in-depth interviews with Black candidates and legislators.鈥�听

鈥淭he research report provides the most comprehensive account of Black Canadians鈥� experiences in politics that has ever been produced. It provides recommendations for increasing the number of Black Canadians who run for office and improving their experiences once they get there,鈥� she said.听

The findings of the report resonated with both Simmonds and Holness, who shared their experiences as politicians in Nova Scotia and Montreal, respectively.听

Angela Simmonds, the first Black Deputy Speaker in Nova Scotian history and former MLA for Preston, speaks at Black on the Ballot.

Simmons shared the challenges she faced as a Black woman canvassing door-to-door, where she encountered racism from prospective voters. She also described the lack of support she received from her political party as the Deputy Speaker. Simmonds now heads a private firm that specializes in equity and inclusion in the workplace.听

Holness described his efforts to bring Montreal鈥檚 disparate Black communities together as a candidate while also sharing a vision that extended beyond becoming Montreal鈥檚 鈥渇irst Black mayor.鈥� He recalled how, while his candidacy was focused squarely on reforming Montreal tax policy, major media outlets often ignored the issues he was campaigning on to highlight his race.

Balarama Holness, Founder of Mouvement Montreal and Bloc Montreal, speaks at Black on the Ballot.

Both share their story on the Black on the Ballot podcast, which was produced by Garvia Bailey. She described her guiding principle to create a safe space for Black interviewees to share their stories honestly.听

To learn more, listen to here.听

Read the research report here.听

WATCH: Dr. Joan Donovan delivers 2024 Attallah Lecture

On October 3rd at 7:00 PM, Dr. Joan Donovan delivered her lecture “Meme War 2024: Networked Incitement in the Static Age”. Dr. Donovan is an Assistant Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media Studies at Boston University, the founder of the Critical Internet Studies institute, and a co-inventor of the beaver emoji. Her lecture offered a contemporary analysis of the political communication strategies that leverage the ambiguity of memes to carry out media manipulation and disinformation campaigns.

As a result of some last-minute issues, Dr. Donovan was unable to join us in person, and so Dr. Benjamin Woo (Associate Director, School of Journalism, and Communication and Media Studies Program Head) dubbed it the “first ever Attallah watch party”. While Dr. Donovan delivered the lecture from her home in Boston, faculty, students, alumni, and community members gathered in Richcraft Hall to hear the lecture and enjoy some refreshments.

If you missed this year’s lecture, don’t worry – ! The video also features introductory remarks by Associate Professor Merlyna Lim, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Digital Media and Global Network Society. You can also see some photos from the evening .

Welcoming new students at Academic Orientation

Every year on the Tuesday after Labour Day, 杏吧原创 hosts Academic Orientation Day or “AOD”. This is a day for students to get to know their new classmates and faculty, begin to understand where things are on campus, and learn about the resources and supports available to them during their time as Ravens. Students can also check out Expo 杏吧原创 and learn about the clubs, societies, and services they can get involved with.

This year, on September 3, we hosted two orientations: one for our new undergraduates, hosted by Prof. Liam Young, and the other for new Masters and PhD students, hosted by Prof. Sandra Robinson. !

COMS Congratulates MA, PhD candidates on successful defenses

Our whole program extends congratulations to three PhD candidates and two masters candidates who have successfully defended their theses/MREs in recent weeks.

Three of our PhD candidates recently successfully defended their PhD theses: Dr. Elena Kaliberda, whose research concerns the European public sphere and media institutions (radio and television), and Dr. Bethany Berard, whose dissertation connects histories of photography and the idea of information towards an informational account of photography, and Dr. Agnes Malkinson. Congratulations to Drs. Kaliberda, Malkinson, and Berard!

R:Dr. Bethany Berard, L: Dr. Elena Kaliberda

In addition, two MA students successfully defended their work – one their thesis and the other their MA research essay:

• Jen Siushansian MA (thesis) Playing Autistic: A critical examination of autistic characters on-screen from Hollywood to Hallyuwood
• Taryn Rerrie MA (MRE) The 鈥楧ripping Tap鈥� of Incivility: Analyzing responses to Mayor Olivia Chow鈥檚 posts on X

In case you missed it, over the summer we profiled Dr. Carly Dybka, who graduated with her PhD in June. Stay tuned for profiles on Dr. Kaliberda and Dr. Berard.

Prof. Susana Vargas Cervantes co-curates Cantando Bajito: Chorus exhibition at Ford Foundation Gallery

Assitant Professor Susana Vargas Cervantes is one of the curators of Cantando Bajito: Chorus,听a new exhibition at the in New York. The exhibition, which opened October 8 and runs until December 7, is the final movement of a three-part exhibition series celebrating strategies for resistance in the wake of rising gender-based violence. It assembles archives and artwork from: Hoda Afshar,听Archivo de la Memoria Trans Argentina (Trans Memory Archive Argentina),听Archivo Memoria Trans M茅xico/Hospital de ropa (Trans Memory Archive Mexico/Clothing Hospital),听Chlo毛 Bass,听Tania Candiani,听Fatma Charfi,听Lizania Cruz,听Cyberfeminism Index,听FAQ?,听Cecilia Granara,听Los Angeles Contemporary Archive,听Mai Ling, and听Textiles Semillas (Textiles as Seeds).

Cantando Bajito: Chorus is described as “an invitation to reflect on the importance of collective making, organizing, and care arising from interdependence in shared struggles. The title, which translates into English as “singing softly”, is drawn from a phrase used by now-liberated political prisoner Dora Mar铆a T茅llez Arg眉ello to describe the singing exercises she used to resist and survive while she was held in solitary confinement.

Prof. Benjamin Woo co-publishes new article on the pedagogy of comic book fandom

Associate Professor Benjamin Woo’s newest article was published October 14 in Issue 3 of Popular Communication. The article, titled “,” was co-published with Kalervo Sinervo (Concordia) and Anna Peppard (Trent). Its focus is听Wizard听magazine, which published from 1991-2011. Wizard听played an important pedagogical role as both a gateway to and a gatekeeper of fandom.

Initially launched as a guide to collecting comic books, Wizard later evolved into a lifestyle and entertainment magazine for a loosely defined 鈥渇anboy鈥� readership. While arguably more accessible than the comics it covered, it addressed its audience in exclusive terms, assuming a normatively male, heterosexual, and white fan. Based on a close reading of a sample of eight self-reflective 鈥渕ilestone鈥� issues, Sinervo, Peppard, and Woo’s article assesses Wizard听as not merely a purveyor of market intelligence to comic book speculators but as a cultural artifact engaged in defining the meaning of fandom for a generation of comic book readers.

COMS student Danielle Carter selected for Global Undergraduate Awards

The are an annual academic awards program that recognize the top work completed by undergraduate students all over the world. This year, for the first time, the awards included Mass Communication as an entry category.

COMS student Danielle Carter submitted an essay entitled “The All-American Couple Goes Platinum: The Public Relations Campaign of the NFL, Taylor Swift, and Travis Kelce,” which she wrote in the Winter 2024 semester for COMS 3310: Critical Perspectives of Public Relations. Her essay was selected as one of the top 10% in the Mass Communication category, earning her the . Congratulations, Danielle!

Those interested in reading Danielle’s essay can find it in the .

Prof. Miranda J. Brady publishes new book Mother Trouble

Associate Professor Miranda J Brady’s new book Mother Trouble: Mediations of White Maternal Angst after Second Wave Feminism听was published by University of Toronto Press earlier this month.

Mother Trouble听traces white maternal angst in popular culture across a span of more than fifty years, from the iconic听Rosemary鈥檚 Baby to anti-vaxx mom memes and HGTV shows. The book narrows in on popular media to think about white maternal angst as a manifestation of feminism鈥檚 unrealized possibilities and continued omissions since the second wave. It interrogates intersecting systems of power which make mothers and their children the most impoverished people in the world and urges a greater appreciation in academic and popular thinking of the work that mothers do.听Mother Trouble is听Dr. Brady’s second book (and her first as sole author) after 2017’sWe Interrupt This Program: Indigenous Media Tactics in Canadian Culture听(co-written with John M.H. Kelly).

If you’re interested in hearing more directly from Dr. Brady, we invite you to join us for a launch event at . Mother Trouble will also be the subject of an event in the Author Meets Readers series at Irene’s Pub in the new year.

Nana aba Duncan (Journalism), Katie Graham (Media Production and Design), and Vincent Andrisani, Emily Hiltz, and Armond Towns (Communication and Media Studies) have all been granted tenure, meaning they now hold their听 positions as faculty on a permanent basis.

Andrisani and Hiltz have also been promoted to the new rank of Associate Professor, Teaching Stream (which replaces the rank of Instructor III).

Promotion, and tenure committees are formed from amongst the ranks of 杏吧原创鈥檚 faculty. They perform rigorous peer assessments of each candidates鈥� teaching, research, and service during their first five years at 杏吧原创.

We are so thankful to Armond, Emily, Katie, Nana aba, and Vincent for the contributions they have already made to the School, and we look forward to their continued accomplishments in years to come. Read on to听learn more about what they鈥檝e already achieved since coming to 杏吧原创.

Vincent Andrisani
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream,
Communication and Media Studies听

Dr. Vincent Andrisani became a member of the Communication and Media Studies faculty in July 2019 alongside Dr. Emily Hiltz, who also achieved tenure this month. He holds a PhD in Communication Studies from Simon Fraser University, and both a Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 in Environmental Studies from York University. Andrisani specializes in sound studies, an academic practice informed by his background as a musician.

Andrisani performed as a drummer in both Toronto and Havana, Cuba. He performed across a wide range of musical styles and gained an interest in Cuban popular music. This interest grew from artistic to academic, and eventually became the subject of his doctoral research, which included a residency in Havana with the Fundac铆on Fernando Ortiz.

This academic interest in sound and listening has continued into Andrisani鈥檚 time at 杏吧原创. He produces , a podcast/radio show that airs on CKCU FM, 杏吧原创鈥檚 campus radio station. On alternating Monday evenings, the show, which explores the idea of 鈥減lace鈥� through listening, features original podcast material developed by Communication and Media Studies students.

Andrisani has received multiple grants through 杏吧原创鈥檚 Teaching and Learning Services and the Faculty of Public Affairs (including one which supports The Place of Sound). In 2023, he received the Faculty of Public Affairs Teaching Excellence Award.

When asked about Andrisani鈥檚 contributions to the SJC, Professor Benjamin Woo (Program Head, Communication and Media Studies, said that 鈥渇rom first-year survey lectures to advanced workshops in digital media production, Professor Andrisani can do it all. Drawing on his background in sound studies, Vincent invites his students to listen to the world around them as a way of engaging in the classroom and in the community. I know his students and colleagues alike value his enthusiasm and warmth.鈥�

Andrisani will teach three courses in the upcoming academic year. Two of them, COMS 1001 and 1002, make up the groundwork of the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies which all first years are required to take. COMS 1001 examines the foundations of communication and media studies, while COMS 1002 explores communication and media as they related to issues in the present day. His third course is a 4^th year digital media production seminar, which sees students producing podcasts which sometimes air as part of The Place of Sound.

Nana aba Duncan
Associate Professor, Journalism
Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity, and Inclusion Studies

Nana aba Duncan joined 杏吧原创鈥檚 Journalism program in 2021 as both an Associate Professor and as the inaugural Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity, and Inclusion Studies. The first of its kind in Canada, the Carty Chair鈥檚 mandate is to change the way journalism students learn the basics of their craft, with a goal of training more sensitive, inclusive reporters.

To this end, Duncan launched 鈥淛ournalism and Belonging鈥�, a new third-year course which explores how ideas like diversity, difference, and inclusion shape not only journalism but also Canadian society. In recognition of her work, she received the 2024 Equity and Inclusion Excellence Award from the Faculty of Public Affairs.

Duncan came to 杏吧原创 after an illustrious career in journalism. After completing her Master of Journalism at the University of Western Ontario, she worked for Journalists for Human Rights in Ghana before joining CBC Radio where she worked for more than a decade. While at CBC, she co-chaired an employee resource group for over 300 employees of colour and created the Media Girlfriends podcast production company.

Duncan is currently undertaking a SSHRC-funded project to research the experiences of Black journalists in Canada through the . Named for the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America, Professor Duncan founded the Shadd Cary Centre in 2023.

鈥淧rof. Duncan was already an agent of change at the CBC when she came to 杏吧原创 and true to form, she has helped to change the way we teach journalism at 杏吧原创,鈥� said Journalism program head Allan Thompson. 鈥淥utside the classroom, Prof. Duncan鈥檚 research is charting new ground in our understanding of the experiences of Black journalists in Canadian news organizations. We are so lucky to have her.鈥�

At the end of the month, Duncan will leave for Chicago to attend the . She will be leading fellows of the 2024 Mary Ann Shadd Cary Fellowship for Black Journalists, a delegation of Black Canadian journalists who are either mid-career or student journalists.听The fellowship is organized by Duncan, with award winning journalists Vicky Mochama and Pacinthe Mattar.听The trip covers the fellows’ travel, accommodation, and registration for the convention, with a goal of professional development as well as building connections with Black journalists in the United States.听In September, she will teach advanced audio journalism workshops for both 4^th year undergraduates and students in the Master of Journalism program.

Katie Graham
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream,
Media Production and Design

Katie Graham became an Instructor with the Media Production and Design (MPAD) program in July of 2019. She holds a B.AS and M.Arch from 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism, and is currently completing a PhD in Architecture.

She previously taught as a Contract instructor for the Azrieli School and for Algonquin College鈥檚 Bachelor of Building Science program and brings a passion for new technologies into the classroom. This fall, she will be teaching two MPAD core courses: 1^st year Intro to Storytelling and 2^nd year Basics of Visual Communication.

鈥淚n her role as an instructor in the Bachelor of Media Production and Design program and most recently as the interim program director, Prof. Graham is constantly working to increase the sense of belonging among her students in the classroom and in her program,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淪he does this by creating opportunities to foster collaboration and learning outside of the classroom.鈥�

Prior to joining the School of Journalism and Communications, Graham spent a decade working with the (CIMS), a research lab affiliated with the School of Architecture. CIMS focuses on understanding and exploring architecture through advanced digital technologies.

As the leader of a team at CIMS, Graham received a Prix G茅maux (Canada鈥檚 French-language television awards) for her work on 鈥淧arliament: A Virtual Experience鈥�. She also received the 2024 Teaching Excellence Award from 杏吧原创鈥檚 Faculty of Public Affairs. In addition to congratulating Professor Graham on her tenure, we extend our gratitude for her service as interim Director of the MPAD program (a role she filled from July 2023-July 2024).

Emily Hiltz
Associate Professor, Teaching Stream,
Communication and Media Studies听

Dr. Emily Hiltz joined the Communication and Media Studies faculty in July of 2019. She is herself a graduate of the School of Communication and Media Studies, having completed her PhD in Communication at 杏吧原创. She also holds an MA in Media Studies and a BA in Media, Information, and Technoculture from the University of Western Ontario.

In both teaching and research, Hiltz focuses on visual media culture, identity, gender, and sexuality, and online communication, as well as on approaching these topics in creative, interdisciplinary, and critical ways. She has published and presented on misogyny and the Depp v Heard trial, 鈥渁nti-vaxx鈥� moms on reddit, and criminal notoriety through its connections to visual culture.

鈥淚n her first five years on faculty, Professor Hiltz has shouldered responsibility for our introducing our undergraduate students to the practice of communications research,鈥� said Dr. Benjamin Woo. 鈥淚n addition to this tremendously important role, she has taught well-regarded courses on gender and on crime, as well as supported many of our co-op students. We all admire the thoughtful and dedicated approach she brings to her work.鈥�

In 2022, Hiltz received the Faculty of Public Affairs Teaching Excellence Award for her work in curriculum development alongside her commitment to student engagement, support, and satisfaction. She is currently researching student perspectives on the learning outcomes of the co-op program and developing a broader process for student consultation during program review cycles, both of which are supported through a 杏吧原创 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning grant.

Hiltz teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate level, in topics ranging from introductory and qualitative research courses to specialized courses on media and crime or media, gender, and sexuality. She regularly supervises undergraduate and graduate students working on a wide range of topics, and mentors students through both the Students as Partners Program and through Graduate Research Assistantships.

Dr. Armond R. Towns
Associate Professor,
Communication and Media Studies

Dr. Armond Towns was appointed as Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies on July 2021. Professor Towns holds a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and previously worked as an Assistant Professor at University of Richmond (2018-2021) and the University of Denver (2015-2018).

Dr. Woo said that 鈥渢he hallmark of Professor Towns鈥檚 scholarship is a clear-eyed engagement with our discipline鈥檚 past in order to chart a more just and inclusive future for communication and media studies. He is also a highly respected teacher who imparts these same values to his students. The awarding of tenure is a well-deserved recognition of Armond鈥檚 achievements and intellectual leadership in the field.鈥�

Towns鈥� research brings together Black studies, cultural studies, and media philosophy. His book, On Black Media Philosophy, was published by the University of California Press in 2022. demonstrates that media philosophy has relied on an understanding of the human as a Western, white, male, capitalist figure. Through concepts drawn from Black studies and Cultural studies, Professor Towns critiques this conception and creates a foundation for Black media philosophy.

Towns is also the cofounder and inaugural editor of , a journal which 鈥減ublishes research on the centrality of race, racism, and colonialism to the praxis of communication from Black, Ethnic, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian voices鈥� (Taylor & Francis, 2024). Issue #1 of Communication and Race was published earlier this year, marking the first new journal from the National Communication Association in over two decades.

Towns has just begun a one-year leave of absence. He will spend the 2024-2025 academic year at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he will support the formation and launch of a new major in Africana Studies.