For more information, please contact Steven Reid at: steven.reid3@carleton.ca\
Updated July 17, 2025
Education:
Back to school: Seeking story pitches.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics:
What happens if Pierre Poilievre loses the byelection in Alberta? What will it mean for his political future?
Deadline: ASAP
Has the U.S. become a police state?
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Technology:
Looking for stories on the science behind the art — from popular culture representations of scientific procedures and processes, to explainers on science in artistic presentation (think gene editing in Jurassic Park, the physics of The Fast & the Furious).
Deadline: Ongoing
Updated July 15, 2025
Culture + Society:
Prada copies a classic South Asian design of summer sandal (the Kolhapuri chappal) and everyone goes crazy. This is the 2nd big story this summer of western fashion designers “lifting/getting inspired from” South Asian fashion. What’s at play here – in the big social media storm? Is it cultural appropriation? Do fashion retailers have a responsibility to acknowledge “inspiration”? BBC story about this: “Do they have gold in them? Indian artisans up in arms over Prada’s sandals.”
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:
Prime Minister Mark Carney now says it’s probably not possible to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump that removes all U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Looking for a scholar to explain what that means for the average Canadian/Canadian politics.
What happens if Pierre Poilievre loses the byelection in Alberta? What will it mean for his political future?
Deadline: ASAP
Has the U.S. become a police state?
Deadline: ASAP
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