New year, new content

The New Year is here and so is the Winter semester here at MRU, and while many are busy trying to stay committed to their New Year’s resolutions, we’ve got a new batch of editors committed to bringing you lots of new articles, videos, photo essays, and podcasts.

I’m Alyssa Hassett, and I, along with fellow newsletter editor Stephanie Gabriel produce the Calgary Journal’s newsletters for your enjoyment this semester.

You can check out the bios of all of our editors this semester on our About Us page, and through our segments on our editors in these newsletters.

We’re so excited to write and edit stories for you this semester, and we’ve already got lots of new content for you.

In this newsletter:

• The bookbinding industry in the digital age
• How professionals snap those gorgeous photos of the Northern Lights
• Speed Skating World Cup and other events happening in the city
• Get to know our editors
• And more!

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to share your favourite articles!

—Alyssa Hassett, Newsletter Editor

In the city

Jan 24-26

The ISO World Cup Speed Skating is taking place at Calgary’s Olympic Oval, where athletes from over 30 countries will be competing. Tickets here.

Jan 31

The Crowchild Classic is back! Watch the UofC and MRU hockey teams face off at the Saddledome on January 31st, tickets are on sale here.

Jan 25 – Feb 2

Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Chinese Cultural Centre! Admission to the festival is free, check it out here.

Video of the week

Your new editors

Here are your new editors for the semester! You can check out their profiles below and learn more about them through our features in every newsletter.

• Valeria Babin – News Editor
• Mia Bare – News Editor
• Stephanie Gabriel – Treaty 7 Editor / Newsletter Editor
• Gurleen Sodhi – Photo Editor
• Olivia Whissell – Sports, A&E, and Environment Editor
• Alyssa Hassett – Newsletter Editor
• Chantel Belisle – Social Media Editor
• Amber McLinden – Faculty Supervisor / Deputy Managing Editor
• Brooks Decillia – Faculty Supervisor / Managing Editor
  

Get to know our editors!

Following our fall editors’ footsteps, we would like to introduce ourselves to you by featuring editors in our newsletters! In this section, you can learn more about a new editor every week with every newsletter, from why they went into journalism to their favourite hobbies and interests. 

So without further ado, I’ll go first: 

Editor Profile: Alyssa Hassett – Newsletter Editor

Q: Why did you want to go into journalism? 

I’ve always loved writing and always thought I would want writing to be involved in my career in some way, but I didn’t consider going into journalism until one of my high school teachers suggested I might be good at it. I then realized that all my favourite movies and musicals from my childhood were all about journalism making an impact on the world, so I’ve been a fan of journalism for a long time without even realizing it. I’m very happy with my choice to study journalism, it’s taught me just how much of an impact a story can have. 

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? 

In my free time, I love to read and spend time with my friends and family. I’m an actor, so most of my weekends are spent reading scripts and preparing for auditions. When my days aren’t super busy I love to find some time to play chess, which has been a passion of mine since I was a kid. I also volunteer at a local animal shelter and I enjoy listening to copious amounts of Taylor Swift’s music every day. 

Q: What was your favourite piece you’ve written for the Calgary Journal? 

My favourite piece I’ve written for the Calgary Journal is a story about a new discovery in physics, and about current research scientists are conducting to study the properties of antimatter. I thought this was such a cool topic and I spent months researching antimatter and the results of the experiment detailing the first-ever gravitational free-fall of antimatter. I was fortunate enough to talk to many amazing scientists working with the  European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and interviewing the scientists who founded the whole project and started studying antimatter before I was even born was such a privilege. 

Read Alyssa’s pieces here

Be a social butterfly!

We love social media, and we’re sure you do too. Chantel Belisle, our social media editor, is working hard to produce quality content on the Calgary Journals’ social channels for you, check out our social content here!

Any time you see an article published on the Calgary Journal website that you enjoy, please don’t be afraid to share it with your network — our reporters and editorial team appreciate the exposure. We’re actively working to improve our social media engagement and newsletter subscriber numbers. So please share, share, share!