Our Advocacy Work
August 31st, 2022
Does watching the video footage of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and her female colleagues being verbally attacked by a 250-pound belligerent bully make your heart race? (You’re probably a woman.) Although my own political confrontation with an angry and self-righteous crowd happened more than 20 years ago, and my boss was the object of […]
read more...The “verbal attack” on Chrystia Freeland deters us all
Our Advocacy Work
January 20th, 2022
In the context of Informed Opinions’ work to combat the #ToxicHush of online hate, we’re deeply conscious of how much abuse many outspoken women and gender-diverse journalists, bloggers and influencers receive. Noting a recent tweet by longtime feminist columnist, Heather Mallick about blocking words on Twitter, we reached out to learn more… Do you remember […]
read more...Blocking Online Abuse: Q&A with Toronto Star columnist Heather Mallick
Our Advocacy Work
January 11th, 2022
If you’re a woman in Canada who pays any attention to politics, you already know the basic arc and many of the low points of the story below. In fact, you’re likely to have had a visceral experience of the events, even if you only ever saw them reported on the news or discussed on […]
read more...Online hate targeting politicians threatens democracy
Our Advocacy Work
December 29th, 2021
Esther Choo is a physician who does medical commentary on CNN, MSNBC and BBC. She has more than 192,000 followers. And because she’s a feminist, tweets about gender inequities, and is also Asian American, she gets trolled. But she’s smart and has a sense of humour, too. So here’s what she does when she gets […]
read more...How to Use #Ottertime to Fight Online Hate and Disorient Trolls
Diversity Belonging + Inclusion and Master Media Engagement
August 11th, 2021
Lori Campbell, newly appointed Associate Vice President, Indigenous Engagement, at the University of Regina has a long history of advocacy. A survivor of the infamous “Sixties Scoop”, she has used her voice to amplify issues affecting Indigenous peoples for many years, responding to media interview requests despite the challenges of doing so. We […]
read more...Giving media interviews through trauma — and giving back to community
Diversity Belonging + Inclusion and Master Media Engagement
November 4th, 2020
and Amy Ede. In the context of our collaboration to engage and support more Indigenous women and gender diverse people in being heard through the media, the two recently sat down (virtually) to discuss related ideas. SHARI: I’m embarrassed to admit that when we started Informed Opinions in 2010, I seriously under-estimated the obstacles to […]
read more...Why is it so crucial that we hear from Indigenous women?
Increase Your Impact as a Speaker and Presenter
October 6th, 2020
“Find another profession.” That was the blunt assessment of one high school student who sat through a presentation I gave in Saskatoon 15 years ago. The youth-targeted media literacy book that had earned me the speaking invitation, In Your Face – The Culture of Beauty and You, was an award-winning Canadian best-seller. But my ability […]
read more...The value of candid criticism from reliable sources
Master Media Engagement
January 25th, 2016
Want to know what journalists think? Ask them. That’s what we did last fall by hosting a series of roundtable luncheons in cities right across the country. Our goal was simple: to pick their brains about ExpertWomen.ca, the new, improved and expanded database we’re starting to build. We’re now incorporating their valuable ideas and insights […]
read more...7 Things Journalists Want Women To Know
Our Advocacy Work
December 31st, 2014
EXPLOITING CELEBRITIES How do you draw public attention to rampant discrimination against women restaurant workers? I played the celebrity card, and heightened the drama by contrasting the red carpet behaviour of Hollywood A-listers, Sandra Bullock (rooted to the spot by her heels) and Hugh Jackman (bounding down Yonge Street posing for selfies with fans). […]
read more...Mandatory High Heels and Facebook Feedback
