For more information, please contact Steven Reid at: steven.reid3@carleton.ca\
Updated July 8, 2025
Culture + Society:
Prada copies a classic South Asian design of summer sandal (the Kolhapuri chappal) and everyone goes crazy. This is the second big story this summer of western fashion designers “lifting/getting inspired from” South Asian fashion. What’s at play amid the social media storm? Is it cultural appropriation? Do fashion retailers have a responsibility to acknowledge “inspiration?” BBC story about this was entitled: “Do they have gold in them? Indian artisans up in arms over Prada’s sandals.”
Deadline: ASAP
Looking for articles on criticisms of Beyonce wearing a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt seen as highly offensive to Indigenous people.
Deadline: ASAP
Education:
Back to school: Seeking story pitches.
Deadline: ASAP
Editor: Susannah Schmidt
Environment + Energy:
Looking for articles on things gardeners can do over the summer to ensure their gardens are friendly to animals, insects and pollinators.
Deadline: ASAP
Health + Medicine:
Plantar fasciitis: Looking for an explainer covering what it is, what causes it, who is at risk, what treatments are available and any steps that can be taken to avoid it.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics:
Should Iran develop nuclear weapons, and would this lead to a more or less stable Middle East? Could US/Israeli attacks on Iran encourage other countries to develop nuclear deterrents?
Deadline: ASAP
Mounties in Québec have reportedly arrested four people, including active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, as alleged terrorist extremist militia members accused of wanting to take over land near Québec City. Looking for scholars of the far right, terrorism or the military to examine.
Deadline: ASAP
Is the United States becoming a police state?
Deadline: ASAP
Updated June 24, 2025
Business/Economy:
Hobbies and side hustles: There is growing pressure to turn hobbies into side hustles. Looking for a scholar to write a piece that explains why people are increasingly pushed to monetize their hobbies, and what the personal and societal benefits are of keeping them as non-productive, joy-driven pursuits.
Deadline: ASAP
NFTs were all the hype a few years ago, but they seem to have all but disappeared from mainstream conversation. Looking for a scholar to write a piece that summarizes the state of NFTs, and explains how they got to where they are today. Are NFTs truly dead, or have they just evolved into something else?
Deadline: ASAP
Looking for an expert to write a story about the prevalence of gambling among people in their 20s and 30s, and research-backed strategies for how they can recognize and overcome it.
Deadline: ASAP
Culture/Society:
Looking for articles on criticisms of Beyonce wearing a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt seen as highly offensive to Indigenous people.
Deadline: ASAP
Education:
Looking for research about children’s summer experiences from camps to family vacations and recreational programming.
Deadline: ASAP
Environment/Energy:
Looking for articles on things gardeners can do over the summer to ensure their gardens are friendly to animals, insects and pollinators.
Deadline: ASAP
Health/Medicine:
Plantar fasciitis: Looking for an explainer covering what it is, what causes it, who is at risk, what treatments are available and any steps that can be taken to avoid it.
Deadline: ASAP
Creatine use in young men: Looking for a story about trends in young men’s bodybuilding and the risks of creatine use in this age group, as well as safe alternatives for building strength
Deadline: ASAP
Protein: Looking for stories about current nutrition trends in high-protein diets, their benefits and risks, as well as dietary protein’s role in the body and how much protein people actually need.
Deadline: ASAP
Watercraft safety: An Ontario man was ticketed recently for not having a PFD on a paddleboard. Small watercraft – including inflatable paddleboards and river tubes – are extremely popular. Looking for an expert to write about the safety protocols that are not only needed for safety, but a legal requirement in many provinces.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics:
Should Iran develop nuclear weapons, and would this lead to a more or less stable Middle East? Could U.S./Israeli attacks on Iran encourage other countries to develop nuclear deterrents?
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Tech:
Google’s AI tools are causing drops in traffic to news websites, according to a recent report by the Washington Post. Looking for a scholar to explain and contextualize these findings within the broader context of the issues facing the journalism industry, and explain whether AI is an existential threat to news outlets.
Deadline: ASAP
Updated June 17, 2025
Business/Economy:
Gen Z Canadians (aged 15-24) are experiencing the highest youth unemployment rate in decades, according to Statistics Canada. Looking for a scholar to explain what’s driving this trend: what barriers young people are facing in the job market and what the long-term impacts could be.
Deadline: ASAP
Hobbies and side hustles: There is growing pressure to turn hobbies into side hustles. Looking for a scholar to write a piece that explains why people are increasingly pushed to monetize their hobbies, and what the personal and societal benefits are of keeping them as non-productive, joy-driven pursuits.
Deadline: ASAP
NFTs were all the hype a few years ago, but they seem to have all but disappeared from mainstream conversation. Looking for a scholar to write a piece that summarizes the state of NFTs, and explains how they got to where they are today. Are NFTs truly dead, or have they just evolved into something else?
Deadline: ASAP
Looking for an expert to write a story about the prevalence of gambling among people in their 20s and 30s, and research-backed strategies for how they can recognize and overcome it.
Deadline: ASAP
Education:
Looking for research about children’s summer experiences from camps to family vacations and recreational programming.
Deadline: ASAP
Environment/Energy:
Looking for articles on prepping for wildfire season, tips for how to handle smoke and other hazards.; how to make buildings more resilient to extreme temperatures.
Deadline: ASAP
Health/Medicine:
Plantar fasciitis: Looking for an explainer covering what it is, what causes it, who is at risk, what treatments are available and any steps that can be taken to avoid it.
Deadline: ASAP
Creatine use in young men: Looking for a story about trends in young men’s bodybuilding and the risks of creatine use in this age group, as well as safe alternatives for building strength
Deadline: ASAP
Protein: Looking for stories about current nutrition trends in high-protein diets, their benefits and risks, as well as dietary protein’s role in the body and how much protein people actually need.
Deadline: ASAP
Watercraft safety: An Ontario man was ticketed recently for not having a PFD on a paddleboard. Small watercraft – including inflatable paddleboards and river tubes – are extremely popular. Looking for an expert to write about the safety protocols that are not only needed for safety, but a legal requirement in many provinces.
Deadline: ASAP
Kids, summer swimming and water safety: Summer weather is around the corner and with it can come family outings or invitations to join other families for socializing involving waterfronts or swimming. What do parents need to know and do to promote and be vigilant about water safety?
Deadline: ASAP
Politics
The federal government expects 4.9 million individuals — more than 10 per cent of Canada’s population — to depart the country voluntarily as their temporary visas expire by the end of 2025. How will this departure affect the housing, medical and unemployment levels, and what image of Canada will the departing population take back home?
Deadline: ASAP
New York City will soon hold a democratic primary to elect a new mayor. We are looking for an article that explains what ranked-choice voting is, how the voting system works, and what its potential benefits and downsides are.
Deadline: ASAP
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has said: “The residents of Tehran will pay the price” of Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel and that the city “will burn.” We are looking for articles explaining Israel’s Dahiya Doctrine and how it has been used in previous wars.
Deadline: ASAP
The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned Israel’s bombing of Iran’s state broadcaster. We are looking for articles analyzing why governments carry out such attacks and the role of the media in conflict.
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Tech:
Google’s AI tools are causing drops in traffic to news websites, according to a recent report by the Washington Post. Looking for a scholar to explain and contextualize these findings within the broader context of the issues facing the journalism industry, and explain whether AI is an existential threat to news outlets.
Deadline: ASAP