I write code and develop processes to convert structured and unstructured data into narrative stories for the Toronto Star. I create and administer the data pipeline. I write webscrapers to pull in data, manage the data storage, clean the data, process it into an API and send it to the NLP automation software I have written. I also handle the publishing responsibilities and pipeline for getting the stories to the web.
In 2022 alone, the stories generated by my software have lead to more than 1.3 million minutes of reader engagement and more than two million page views.
I led a team of journalists, developers and data librarians to innovate new news products and automate news production. We created tools to automate COVID coverage, write sports results stories, cover elections and turn serialized structured data into hundreds of local-focused stories. We developed tools and used AI and machine learning to automate news production and assist research in the newsroom. My ideas for automation lead to the creation of a new innovation-based bureau at the Canadian Press and won funding from the Google News Initiative.
In my first year leading the team, we successfully automated thousands of stories, saved thousands of hours of work and enabled reporters in the newsroom to focus on reporting complex stories while leaving the rote work for machines. We integrated AI and machine learning into our processes to increase the value of the content we created and to provide added context to data to enable better reporting. I was responsible for the team's overall vision, budgeting, hiring, strategic plan and project management.
I was responsible for all the interactive graphics created and sold by the Canadian Press, including all the election maps used by the majority of media companies in Canada. I built graphics, games and story packages designed for clients on multiple platforms.
I designed and made the Edmojis custom iOS & Android keyboard. I also lead a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the development of the app.
Please accept this as my application for the Director, Digital Experiences role.
I have been doing digital journalism for the past decade. Right now, I’m the head developer of the Automated Content team at The Toronto Star. Prior to that, I was head of The Canadian Press’ Digital Data Desk, an in-house innovation team that has focused on building custom automation tools. Before getting into automation I developed all of CP’s interactive graphics, games and tools. These roles have prepared me perfectly for the Director role you are looking to fill.
My current job is problem solving. Every day I need to figure out how to turn unstructured and unpredictable data into written narratives. I also need to work to convince a skeptical and very traditional business leadership group that these innovations are worthwhile and feasible. And I need to work with a larger team to build infrastructure, QA test and deliver my work to production. The job requires wearing multiple hats daily and in order to be successful I have to foster cooperation and collaboration between the digital team, the editorial team and the business and senior leadership.
Throughout my career I have always been an innovator. In 2011, I won the MJ Bear Fellowship from the Online News Association as the world’s top digital journalist under 30. In 2021, I convinced Google to fund the Digital Data Desk at CP and hired a team to execute my vision for automation and innovation. Prior to leading that team I created interactive experiences, including games and graphics for news audiences. Each experience always had a focus on design, positive user experience and accessibility.
I pride myself on always being able to learn something new and I have a passion for figuring out new technologies and leveraging them to do good work.
I have worked with many technologies which would be useful for this role. Including, but not limited to, Javascript, Nodejs, d3.js, Babylon.js, ARKit, AR.js, Unity, Python 3, Swift (2 & 3), AWS (including S3, Lambda, API Gateway, Route 53). I am a certified Scrum Master and trained in Agile. And my journalism background has taught me the importance of storytelling. In everything I do, the communication is clean and readable, the presentation is well designed and the medium is appropriate for the message.
I look forward to hearing from you about this opportunity and if we are a right fit for one another.
Journalism diploma 2008 - 2010
I graduated with the award for top journalism student in the graduation class. I also served one semester as the Editor of the Algonquin Times.
Arts, Music 2002 - 2007
I studied music and served as the Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Athenauem, Acadia's student newspaper.
2021
Here are a few links to me on the web for you to check out:
Here is a selction of awards I've won, interivews I've given and speaking engagements I've made.
I recently spoke at Data Driven 2021 on automating daily COVID-19 stories and charts. I also had a paper accepted at the Computation + Journalism Symposium 2021 on Using Automation in Election Story Research.
You can read more about my work here:
How The Canadian Press is using bots to build the future of election coverage - JSource
Reporter: How “robojournalism” can save local news - Ryerson Journalism Review
Automation at The Canadian Press: Doing More with Less - Sourcefabric
COVID-19 with automated journalism: leveraging innovation in times of crisis - Columbia Journalism School’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism
(Samuel Danzon-Chambaud, School of Communications, Dublin City University)