Journalism Matters
500 news organizations mark World News Day by demonstrating the power of journalism to make a difference. Take a look at the following reports and features that are making an impact in an increasingly complex and uncertain world:

The Narwhal: ‘Scared into silence’: former workers allege abuse, safety issues at B.C. environmental organization
Breathtaking photos. Adventurous boat trips. A mission to save the planet. Young people were drawn to Pacific Wild, but many describe a work culture of bullying and harassment.

Free Press Unlimited: One year since the fall of Kabul: a detailed account of the evacuation
When the Taliban gained more and more territory, eventually entered Kabul, and took control over Afghanistan, it was pure chaos. For Free Press Unlimited it was an unprecedented crisis situation as well, that required our emergency team to work day and night to help keep journalists and fixers safe. We did not do that alone.

Free Press Unlimited: Creating a safe space for women journalists in Kenya
Around 65% of women journalists surveyed in Kenya say they have faced physical or verbal harassment. The Association of Media Women in Kenya is working hard to address this issue.

Free Press Unlimited: Journalism Matters. It is pivotal in protecting our democracies
What would the world look like without independent journalists? A question that can be answered by looking at countries where press freedom has been curtailed to a minimum and journalists have been gagged: Russia, China, North Korea.

Hamilton Spectator: Hamilton’s Parkdale Landing was to provide safer supportive housing — but then a murder happened
A look inside Indwell’s Parkdale Landing, where drug-dealing visitors have posed such challenges the non-profit says it will never build another high-needs building so large.

Hamilton Spectator: Stunning crisis in legal system jeopardizes ‘tsunami’ of Hamilton criminal cases
An unprecedented number of trials in Hamilton’s Ontario Court of Justice — including a homicide — are in jeopardy of being tossed out because of the backlogged system is setting dates beyond the legal time limit.

Hamilton Spectator: More than a year after COVID outbreak claimed 20 lives, family wonders how Shalom Village can still fail provincial inspection
Michelle Capriotti’s mother died in early 2021 during a COVID outbreak at the Westdale long-term care home; she wonders how the facility can still be flagged for not following ministry protocols for infection prevention in February 2022.

Hamilton Spectator: Experts say dramatic decline of Joseph Brant patient is a symptom of a crisis in health care
Ken O’Leary was walking, talking and preparing for a cruise. After being admitted to the Burlington hospital, he rapidly declined. Four months later, he was dead in a hospice. The hospital says he received ‘appropriate care.’

Hamilton Spectator: Hamilton grandparents, mom, children squeezed into homelessness
With no place to call home since August, it has been a long, trying haul. But Carla Fakes hopes the ordeal will be a foggy memory — if at all — for her grandchildren.

Hamilton Spectator: Homeless in Hamilton: Out of parks but still on the margins
Fewer tents are visible amid ramped-up bylaw enforcement but the crisis persists. When the strangers approached late one night to ask her to break a $50 bill, dog and owner alike sensed danger.

Hamilton Spectator: Hamilton police helped her escape human trafficking. Now she’s rebuilding her life
She remembers hearing shouts of “get down, get down” before her captors started running. She wondered if they were being robbed. Then she realized it was Hamilton police. She was being rescued.

Hamilton Spectator: Blanche Dingle died in her Dundas retirement home — and wasn’t found for 36 hours
Inspection reports reveal Amica neglected the 91-year-old resident, failing to do required wellness checks.