Joanna Lavoie
Verified
(She/Her)
As seen in:
CP24,
The Toronto Star,
CFTO-TV (Scarborough, ON),
CTV News,
Flipboard,
BNN Bloomberg,
Waterloo Region Record,
Auburn Citizen,
KTVZ-TV (Bend, OR),
The Hamilton Spectator (Hamilton, ON),
Toronto.com
and
Covers:
breaking + hyper-local news, social justice issues (notably drug poisoning crisis and homelessness), crime, (un)safe streets, politics, COVID-19, health, arts/entertainment, food, business, etc.
Doesn't Cover:
n/a
Bilingual Multimedia Journalist
@CP24 + bylines @ctvtoronto @ctvnews | Prev: @torontodotcom @torontostar | @JournalismTMU alum | #socialjustice #breakingnews
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelancer. Web Editorial Assistant. Associate Editor/Managing Editor.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
In high school!
How is social media changing news?
everything now much more timely and accessible than ever before.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lois Lane
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It's both a huge responsibility and a privilege afforded to few. I don't take this opportunity lightly.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Will get back to you.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
everything and anything.
What's your favorite social network?
I like Twitter. Also Insta+Fb. Linkedin.
Who do you wish followed you?
Barack Obama.
Why did you become a journalist?
I've always been a curious person with a deep desire to help others.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. Editor-in-Chief.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I have several, but this one was a biggie. It went viral around the globe: https://www.toronto.com/whatson-story/7265985-leslieville-gallery
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Never give up. Understand this field is for those who are passionate about what they do. Realize the work you do is documenting history.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
meh.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
too many to list.
What's your favorite drink?
coffee. wine.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At the dance studio.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I read a few...enjoy Toronto Life in my free time.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
n/a
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.