Omar Sachedina and CTV News are launching a new fellowship for up-and-coming journalists looking to jumpstart their career in news. The fellowship is administered by RTDNF Canada (Radio Television Digital News Association) and Massey College is a partner, where we help with the mentorship of the fellows, and host them at the College. Please see CTV’s website for more information. Please reach out to Emily Mockler if you’d like to get involved with this project.
I’m pleased to share that printed versions of the College Directory are available for pickup in the Porter’s lodge. Quantities are limited, and it’s first come, first served. There will be a new directory printed over the course of the summer after incoming (2024/2025) Junior Fellows and new Senior Members have been approved by the Board.
It was great to see the community come out to the college end-of-term barbeque last Friday, even though the cool air pushed many into the Common Room!
The latest episode of The JCR: A Massey Podcast is out now.
Global Connection Faster Than Ever
With our ever-expanding demand for information, we need faster communication. Optical Fibres have already brought massive increases in bandwidth, but there are many challenges to overcome in order to take fibre to the next level. Junior Fellow Pranjal Tiwari, a PhD student in Physics, interviews Susanna Rumsey, a Junior Fellow and PhD student in Electrical Engineering. They discuss the history that led us to the use of fibre optics and the current challenges to its wider implementation.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
MASSEY COLLEGE BOOK CLUB
We are currently looking ahead to programming for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Massey College Book Club Committee has a survey for community members to add their input to the books to discuss in the fall/winter. Fill out the form here to have your say!
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 1 | World Press Freedom Day
10:00am | Junior Common Room & online
In advance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Journalists for Human Rights and Massey College will host an event to discuss issues faced by Russian and Belarusian journalists working in exile. Join JHR’s Interim Executive Director Bill Killorn, founder of DisinfoWatch.org Marcus Kolga, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada The Hon. Darius Skusevicius, Belarusian journalist Hanna Liubakova and journalist and co-founder of Media Hub Riga Samine Sile. RSVP.
May 7 | Power and the Press: Marty Baron on Trump, Bezos & the Future of Journalism
In partnership with the Canadian Journalism Foundation, join us for a compelling conversation with Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, as he delves into themes from his book Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos and THE WASHINGTON POST. Marty will be joined in conversation with William Southam Journalism Fellow alum and former Globe and Mail columnist and author Elizabeth Renzetti.
May 9 | RSC x Massey Dialogues: Freedom of Expression | Liberté d’expression
Hosted by the Academy of Arts and Humanities, the evening will feature a discussion between Jocelyn Maclure and Senior Fellow Alexie Tcheuyap. Junior Fellow alum and Le Devoir columnist Emilie Nicolas will moderate.
Language: Bilingual (live interpretation available). RSVP.
May 13 | In Conversation with Alexander Neef
Join current General Director of the Opéra national de Paris Alexander Neef and Senior Fellow and editor-in-chief of Newest Magazine Raji Kaur Aujla for a morning conversation about the state of performance arts amidst a world calling for decolonization. RSVP.
May 15 | Massey Dialogues –Forging a Way Forward: Navigating China-Canada Relations Amidst 2024’s Uncertainties
Join us for the final Massey Dialogues of the term hosted by the Canada China Forum. Leading experts, practitioners and thought-leaders will delve into China’s global presence, the complex bilateral ties between the two nations, and explore strategies to navigate political, economic, social and environmental uncertainties. Domestic and international events, such as Canada’s Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference, the US Presidential Election and the ongoing wars in Israel-Gaza and Ukraine and Russia, are likely to add pressure on Beijing and Ottawa in having to cooperate, compete or challenge each other. Gain tangible insights as the panel discusses diplomatic approaches, economic collaboration and competition, and the future trajectory of this evolving relationship. RSVP.
May 25-26 | Doors Open Toronto
This year marks the first year Massey will be open for Doors Open weekend. We know it will be a big draw as an architectural gem on campus and in Toronto.
Call for volunteers between 10:00am-4:00pm. If interested, please contact Matt Glandfield. Learn more about the #DOT24 festival.
May 28 | Book Launch: Out of Darkness by Denise Chong
A gripping story of a domestic assault that shocked the world, of the exercise of power and political influence, and of the Bangladeshi woman whose irrepressible spirit found light in sudden darkness. Author Denise Chong will be in conversation with Rumana Monzur. RSVP.
May 29 | The Vincent Massey Tovell Essay Prize: The Trust Spiral by Tara Henley
Declining trust in the media is a pressing issue in this country and in recent months news leaders have begun trying to unpack the trend. This year’s Massey Essay on the state of the media offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how this downward spiral in trust took place – and how the media might begin to restore faith in its work.
Massey College and the Literary Review of Canada are pleased to present a conversation on this important topic, featuring current affairs journalist and podcaster Tara Henley. Tara will discuss her piece with author and broadcaster Rudyard Griffiths. RSVP.
COMMUNITY NEWS
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Mary V. Seeman, mother of Senior Fellow Neil Seeman, passed away last week. Although she was not a member of the College, we would nevertheless like to honour her life’s work and how much she did to trailblaze for women working in the medical sciences at the University of Toronto. You can read her obituary here. Please join me in sending condolences to Neil and his family during this difficult time.
AWARDS
Junior Fellows Otuto Chukwu, Chukwuonoso Nwabufo, and Nancy Tahmo have been selected as recipients of the 2024 African Scholars Emerging Academic Award by the University of Toronto African Alumni Association. The award ceremony happens this week at Massey.
Alumni Peter Serles has been named a Schmidt Science Fellow, funded by former Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy Schmidt. The international fellowship includes a $110,000 USD stipend per year for up to two years to support living costs and enable interdisciplinary postdoctoral research. Peter is profiled in the Globe and Mail here.
Alum Michael O’Shea has been selected as one of eight inaugural ASTRO ACCEL Early Career Researchers. More information about the program here.
Massey Alum are finalists in the Digital Publishing Awards and were nominated in the following categories:
- Journalism Fellow alum Robert Cribb – Best Data Journalism with The Toronto Star
- Tajja Isen – Best Column in The Walrus
- Mobólúwajídìde (Bo) Joseph – as a contributor to The Local’s Finch West Issue in the Best Digital Editorial Package (Small)
- Journalism Fellow alum David Rider – Best News Coverage for his contributions to The Star
Congratulations!
NEWS
- Read Senior Fellow Benjamin Alarie’s Op-en in the Hub, here.
- Senior Fellow Randy Boyagoda reviews Lublin, Manya Wilkinson’s new novel in The New York Times. He also talks to the Globe and Mail about Sri Lankan students studying abroad.
- One of Junior Fellow Otutuo Chukwu’s papers has been recognized by Wiley as one of the top 10 most-cited papers published in the International Journal of Health Planning and Management.
- Senior Fellow Raywat Deonandan is quoted in the Ottawa Citizen on vaccines.
- Senior Fellow Bruce Kidd discusses monetary prizes for Olympic gold medalists.
- Alum Kent Roach discusses wrongful convictions and the Umar Zameer case.
- Read Senior Fellow Janice Stein’s latest Op-ed in the Globe and Mail.
- Junior Fellow Christine Tran was interviewed in Canadian Business.
- Alum Alice Zhu talks to NBC about plastic on the ocean floor.
A reminder that our Massey is Lunch program has now closed for the term, but the kitchen remains open and serves a delicious (and varied!) breakfast and lunch through to the end of July. This is one of the best places on campus to grab a bite, so bring your friends and colleagues.
I hope to run into you in Ondaatje Hall soon!
Jonathan
