Prof. Bill Reynolds takes over as director of Journalism Research Centre

Bill Reynolds has taken over as the new director of the Journalism Research Centre at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly the Ryerson Journalism Research Centre). 

The Research Centre brings faculty members, journalists and students together to explore emerging trends in journalism and journalism practice in the digital age. Reynolds took over the role from Joyce Smith this summer, and is set to hold the position until 2025. 

Coming into the role, Reynolds consulted with outgoing director Joyce Smith, as well as former director April Lindgren, in regards to how the job was done. 

Smith was the Research Centre’s director for four years including the challenging last two years, during the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant researchers couldn’t travel to conduct research and to present at academic and professional conferences. Smith also notes that faculty members spent the time normally producing research on adapting courses for remote teaching.

“I’m really sad that it included so much time during the pandemic, because I think there were lots of things we all could have done,” said Smith. “I think people’s ability to do research and creative work obviously took a hit, along with everything else.”

Smith did note that a highlight was seeing the work coming from both those who have been at the school for a long time, as well as newer faculty members, while also having the chance to work with both current and former students.

“One of the nice things about the Research Centre is the opportunity to foster interaction and collaboration with one another and support each other,” said Smith.

As director, Reynolds plans on organizing recurring panel presentations. In September, the Research Centre sponsored the Centre for Free Expression’s Journalists’ Trauma event, as well as Solidarity Journalism, an event put together by School of Journalism faculty members Asmaa Malik and Sonya Fatah. The Research Centre is now currently working to organize a panel discussion to focus on online hate targeting women journalists.

The Research Centre is also working to launch an online magazine which features narrative feature writing, called Otter. The masthead consists of roughly a dozen graduate students who took the School’s Narrative Journalism course last winter. The first set of features is set to be released at the beginning of November.

Another goal is to host a research social in the new year, inviting all Creative School graduate students.

“The other thing we really want to try to get off the ground is getting interaction between graduate students,” said Reynolds. “Not just in journalism but across campus, and getting people more knowledgeable about how different programs work in terms of research.”

Now back in person, Reynolds says being on campus provides “tons” more flexibility in terms of what the Research Centre will be able to do.

“We can get together in person, we can have events in The Catalyst or in The Venn,” said Reynolds. “I’m a big believer that the university has a place where people meet and talk and learn and think, and argue things out and debate as a real, live space.”