Biography

A former general assignment reporter for the Ottawa Citizen, located in Canada's capital, I have been on the full-time faculty of the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University since 1974, and served as Director of the School for a six-year period in the 1990s. I teach courses in reporting and public relations, civic institutions, ethics, and mass media theory. My freelance journalism has appeared in a variety of newspapers and magazines, including the Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star, Canadian Geographic Travel, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, Vancouver Sun, Montreal Gazette, National Post, Hamilton Spectator, Canadian Consulting Engineer, Toys & Games, Marketing and Communication World. I specialize in cultural/historical stories, offbeat travel, soft adventure, learning vacations and general destination pieces.

Credits

Recent stories cover destinations as diverse as Islay, Scotland; Pasadena, California; Regina, Saskatchewan; small-town France; Newport, Rhode Island; and the Vermont beer trail. I've sold stories in a variety of styles -- from "top 5" consumer lists to a reflective essay on "why I travel." I contribute regularly to the Ottawa Citizen's popular "Daytripping" feature.

A feature about Harlem, which appeared in the Ottawa (Ont.) Citizen, captured first prize for domestic destinations/newspaper in the 2005 NATJA competition. In 2007, I captured first place awards for domestic destinations/newspaper for "American Idyll," a feature on the Lake Champlain Islands, and local lifestyles for "The Garage that does Million Dollar Tuneups," about touring a major restorer of antique cars. These winners appeared in the Ottawa Citizen and Toronto Star respectively.

For four years, I was lead judge for the Northern Lights Awards, the annual North American travel writing program sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission. This involved some 200+ entries annually from newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and radio. I judge the annual Ottawa Tourism travel journalism competition.

Affiliations

Travel Media Association of Canada
North American Travel Journalists Association