Editorial Team

Carly Penrose (she/her) was a student data journalist with the Local News Data Hub while completing the second year of her master or journalism degree at Toronto Metropolitan University. Now graduated, she works with the Investigative Journalism Foundation and continues to collaborate with the Local News Data Hub on data-driven stories.

Email: carly.penrose@torontomu.ca

Apurva Bhat is a recent graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism where she gained experience covering hard news and features, produced broadcast pieces, and reported on fashion and entertainment. Her passion for storytelling earned her the Derek Rider Award of Storytelling Excellence during her time at TMU. Apurva was born and raised in Dubai and moved to Toronto in 2021. Her experiences as an immigrant and person of colour in Canada have been a huge part of her identity and work.

Email: apurva.bhat@torontomu.ca

Dr. Nicole Blanchett is an associate professor in Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism and co-director of the Local News Research Project. Her research focuses on journalistic role performance, the use of audience data in newsrooms, and the changing boundaries and definitions of journalism, as seen in papers published in Journalism Practice and Digital Journalism. She previously worked as a news producer and writer at Citytv in Toronto.

Dr. Haider is a professor of data science and real estate management at Toronto Metropolitan University. He serves as the research director at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Urban Analytics Institute and is the author of Getting Started with Data Science: Making Sense of Data with Analytics (2016). His weekly column on real estate markets appears in Postmedia newspapers across Canada.

Asmaa Malik is an associate professor and interim co-chair at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Journalism, where she teaches digital and entrepreneurial journalism. She has played several key editorial roles at the Montreal Gazette and the Toronto Star and her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Walrus and the Star.

Kevin Manuel, MA, MLIS is the data librarian at Toronto Metropolitan University Library and is the university’s official representative to Statistics Canada. In his role as data librarian, he assists researchers with the location and retrieval of research data. Additionally, he provides research support for Black Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies and is involved with the library’s Indigenous Engagement Plan.

Bhaswati Mazumder is the statistical consultation and learning specialist at the Toronto Metropolitan University Library. She provides consultation and education on applied statistics, supporting a broad range of research in various disciplines. Bhaswati has a masters degree in spatial analysis and over 15 years of work experience, with multiple awards, in teaching. With a research expertise in environmental modelling, she also currently serves as a sessional lecturer and PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

Angela Misri is an assistant professor in TMU’s School of Journalism and a co-director of the Local News Research Project. Her research focuses on the use of AI to create content, including journalism products. Her academic work has been published in Facts & Frictions and AI & Society. She worked for 14 years at CBC Radio, and another five years as the digital director of The Walrus.

Patti Sonntag is an award-winning journalist and producer. The founder of the Institute for Investigative Journalism at Concordia University and a former managing editor in The New York Times’ News Services division, she has led the large investigative teams working on “The Price of Oil,” “Tainted Water,” and “Broken Promises,” among others. She is currently helping with projects at University of Victoria and APTN News.

Christina Wong is the data analyst, GIS technician and website administrator for the Local News Research Project and the Local News Data Hub. She is a graduate of the Geographic Analysis program at Toronto Metropolitan University.