Andrea Houston

Andrea Houston Resume

EXPERIENCE SNAPSHOT

RICOCHET MEDIA

Managing Editor // April 2022 — present
  • Ricochet’s first Managing Editor
  • Collaborate with editors and journalists to edit and balance investigative projects and stories
  • Devise strategies to fill gaps in media landscape
  • Inspire change by holding power to account and covering untold stories

TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

Instructor // August 2016 — present
  • Develop and teach TMU’s first course on Queer Media
  • Stimulate first-year students through Introduction to News Studies
  • Inspire journalism students to become more engaged with politics and students from outside journalism to become more engaged with media

OFFICE OF MPP JILL ANDREW

Legislative Assistant // May 2020 — September 2020
  • Speech writing, media relations, and social media advocacy for Women’s Issues Critic at Ontario Legislature

RAINBOW RAILROAD

Communications & Development Officer // March 2018 — February 2020
  • Crafted and oversaw campaigns increasing awareness of, and bringing new donors to, the premier international organization helping LGBTQ+ people flee violence and persecution
  • Collaborated on shared objectives with partner organizations and governments around the world
  • Maximized organization’s media presence, converting that into monetary contributions

TORONTOIST

Managing Editor // February 2017 — September 2017
  • Recruited and managed new, diverse contributors
  • Increased and broadened audience among young readers
  • Reinvigorated brand with rekindled sense of purpose and relevance

OFFICE OF MPP CHERI DINOVO

Executive Assistant // January 2015 — January 2016
  • Worked with stakeholders across political spectrum and civil society to advance human-rights legislation, including Canada’s first ban on conversion therapy
  • Managed legislative office, including budget

NOW MAGAZINE

Writer and Organizer // February 2014 — February 2015
  • Mobilized coalition fighting for repeal of new laws criminalizing sex work
  • Covered law’s passage and implications

XTRA

Staff Reporter // October 2010 — January 2014
  • Exposed discrimination against LGBTQ people in Toronto and around the world
  • Investigated systemic injustices, advanced rights through journalism

PETERBOROUGH EXAMINER

Staff Reporter // April 2006 — October 2010
  • Reporter and photographer on news team, covering courts, justice, and education

TORONTO STAR

Staff Reporter // March 2000 — May 2004
  • Crime and police reporter on City Desk
  • Trainer for new radio room interns

EDUCATION

Fundraising Management Certificate

  • Humber College // 2017 — 2018

Honours B.A. English / Theatre

  • York University // 1999 — 2003

Journalism Diploma

  • Humber College // 1996 – 1999

PROJECTS, SPEECHES & WORKSHOPS

  • Member of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s International Committee, assisting Afghan journalists seeking to flee Afghanistan
  • Consultant on Historica Canada’s first LGBT-themed Heritage Minute
  • Presented to 300 youth at Historica Canada Trailblazers in Women’s History Forum for International Women’s Day (2018)
  • Member of African Centre for Refugees board, advising on campaigns and fundraising`
  • Keynote at Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation’s Status of Women Awards (2013)
  • Founding member of Dignity Initiative working group, a network of Canadian organizations pushing political leaders to take stands on international LGBT issues
  • International Day of Pink speaker for banking executives in Toronto, as well as Montreal, Trinidad, Bahamas, & London via Skype (2016)
  • Panellist on TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin, “Democracy & Rainbows” episode on international LGBTQ human rights (2014)
  • Addressed Massey College’s Southam Journalism Fellows on social media in reporting (2013)
  • Judging panel for Journalists for Human Rights student journalism award (2017)

SKILLS

  • Public speaking (teaching, mentoring, lecturing)
  • Journalism
  • Research
  • Human Rights and Social Justice
  • Writing and editing
  • Fundraising and donor stewardship
  • Media strategies
  • Social media
  • Project management
  • Campaign organizing
  • Grassroots activism
  • Legislative politics
  • International human rights

COMPUTER SKILLS

  • Google Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • WordPress
  • Google Docs
  • iMovie
  • Adobe Photoshop
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