Professor April Lindgren is the principal investigator for the Local News Research Project (external link) (LNRP) at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism. Her research focuses on local news poverty, a term she uses to describe situations where the critical information needs of communities are not being addressed by local media. She spearheaded creation of the crowd-sourced Local News Map , an ongoing project that tracks the launch – and loss – of local news organizations in Canada, and has led research projects that document the extent to which local news is at risk and unevenly available across the country. In January 2021 she launched the Local News Data Hub , a student-industry collaborative project committed to shoring up local journalism across Canada by supplying newsrooms with data-based stories and training student data journalists.
The Local News Research Project, has received funding from SSHRC, CERIS-The Ontario Metropolis Centre, the federal MITACS program, Toronto Metropolitan University and the Rossy Foundation. Ongoing LNRP projects include an examination of the potential for philanthropy to support local journalism and research on the uneven availability of local news across the country. Past studies included an analysis of news reporting on disadvantaged Toronto neighbourhoods, research on how ethnic newspapers portray the Greater Toronto Area to newcomers, an examination of how other racial and ethnic groups are covered in ethnic media, and an investigation of news coverage of the 2011 election in the ethnic press. Prof. Lindgren was the School of Journalism’s Velma Rogers Research Chair from 2018 to 2021. She was the founding director of the Ryerson Journalism Research Centre in 2011 and led the organization for the next seven years.
Before joining the School of Journalism in 2007, she spent more than 20 years as a reporter, covering economics and politics on Parliament Hill and at Queen’s Park for the Ottawa Citizen and what was then the Southam/CanWest chain of newspapers. She was also a regular political commentator for Global Television’s Focus Ontario public affairs show.
Prof. Lindgren has a bachelor of journalism degree from Carleton University and a diplôme in international relations from the Graduate School of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2005-2006 she was the St. Clair Balfour journalism fellow at the University of Toronto’s Massey College, where her studies focused on urban issues. Prof. Lindgren is also the author of Headline: Murder, nominated for the 2009 Arthur Ellis Canadian Crime Writing Award for Best First Novel.
Published
2018
Lindgren, April; Rinner, Claus; and Komaromy, Andrew. (2018). Geospatial tools for the visualization and analysis of local news distribution. In The Future of Local News: Research and Reflections. (Academic paper). Read here.
Lindgren, April; and Corbett, John. (2018). The Local News Map: Transparency, credibility, and critical cartography. In The Future of Local News: Research and Reflections. (Academic paper). Read here.
Lindgren, April. (March 26, 2018). “How Ottawa should spend its $50 million to support local news.” Read here.
2017
Lindgren, April. (2017, December 9). Local news lovers should consider ponying up. Winnipeg Free Press. (Op-ed article). Read here.
Lindgren, April. (Dec. 9, 2017). “Local news lovers should consider ponying up.” Winnipeg Free Press. Read here.
Lindgren, April. (Dec. 7, 2017). “Instead of mourning local news, try paying for it.” Toronto Star. Read here.
Lindgren, April, Hodson, Jaigris and John Corbett. (Jan. 23, 2017) “Canada’s local news ‘poverty.’” Policy Options. Read here.
2016
Lindgren, April. (Fall 2016). “University researchers explore ‘local news poverty’ in Canadian communities.” Grassroots Editor. Vol. 57, Issue 3-4. p. 6. International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.
Lindgren, April. (Sept. 7, 2016). “Ryerson journalism professor investigates local news poverty.” AMO Association of Municipalities Ontario. Read here.
Lindgren, April and Jon Corbett. (June 14, 2016). The Local News Map: Tell us what is happening to local news in your community. Click here to see map. Click here to read article.
2015
Lindgren, April. “Municipal Communication Strategies and Ethnic Media” Global Media Journal (Canadian Edition) Volume 8, Issue 2. p. 49-71. Available here.
Lindgren, April. 2015, Sept. How is your Toronto neighbourhood portrayed in the news?Check it out using these interactive maps. Available here.
Lindgren, April. 2015. Ethnic media: On the Margins No More. In eds. Harald Bauder and John Shields. Immigration, Integration, and the Settlement Experience in North America. Canadian Scholars’ Press, 367-387.
2014
Lindgren, April. 2014. Toronto-area ethnic newspapers and Canada’s 2011 federal election: An investigation of content, focus and partisanship. Canadian Journal of Political Science: December (47)4.
Lindgren, April. 2014. Demonized Weed. Book review in Literary Review of Canada. July-August: 20-21.
Lindgren, April. 2014. Ethnic media election coverage: A content analysis methodology. Available here.
2013
Lindgren, April. 2013. The diverse city: Can you read all about it in ethnic newspapers? CERIS Working Paper #95. Available here.Research summary available here.
Lindgren, April. 2013. The Diverse City: Can you read all about it in ethnic newspapers? Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice (5) 2: 120-140.
2011
Lindgren, April. 2011. Interpreting the city: Portrayals of place in a Toronto-area ethnic newspaper. Aether: The Journal of Media Geography 8(A): 66-88. Available here.
2009
Lindgren, April. 2009. Mapping local news: A research methodology. Proceedings of the AEJMC annual conference. Available here.
Lindgren, April. 2009. News, geography and disadvantage: Mapping newspaper coverage of high-needs neighbourhoods in Toronto, Canada. Canadian Journal of Urban Research 18(1): 74-97.
In the News
2018
The Walrus: May 14, 2018. “Inside the Toronto Star’s bold plan to save itself” quotes April Lindgren about her research on local news poverty. Click to read.
Financial Post: May 9, 2018. “Google cozies up to journalists to ensure they keep producing vibrant, local news, but industry not impressed” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CBC: April 21, 2018. “Health Canada’s ‘fake news?’ – It’s not fake but it’s not news either” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Globe and Mail: April 2, 2018. “Torstar hiring 20 reporters as it revamps Metro urban dailies” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
HuffPost Canada: April 2, 2018. “Torstar to hire 20 reporters in western Canada for Metro rebrand” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Ottawa Citizen: April 2, 2018. “Torstar, parent company of the Toronto Star, announces plan to expand reach westward” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Toronto Star: April 2, 2018. “Toronto Star brand to expand nationally” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CBC World at 6: Jan. 15, 2018. Podcast featuring April Lindgren on the loss of community newspapers. Click to listen.
CTV Your Morning: Jan. 11, 2018. “The death of community newspapers.” Interview with April Lindgren.
2017
CBC Ottawa Morning: Dec. 28, 2017. “The Local News Research Project” interview with April Lindgren. Click to listen.
CBC Saskatchewan Blue Sky: Dec. 27, 2017. Interview with April Lindgren about the Local News Research Project.
J-Source.ca: Dec. 19, 2017. “Archivists and researchers raise concerns about what happens to newspaper archives” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CBC Radio Day 6 with Brent Bambury: Dec. 6, 2017. “The local paper closed last week – so he’s opening his own” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
The Gazette: Dec. 4, 2017. “Studying journalism in the midst of a disrupted industry” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
The Eyeopener: Dec. 1, 2017. “Syrian refugees are not well represented in the media, Rye study says” quotes Asmaa Malik and Kamal Al-Solaylee. Click to read
The Signal: Dec. 1, 2017. “Are community newspapers fading away?” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CBC Kitchener-Waterloo: Nov. 29, 2017. April Lindgren interviewed by local morning show about Postmedia/TorStar newspaper swap.
CBC Metro Morning: Nov. 29, 2017. April Lindgren interviewed by local morning show about Postmedia/TorStar newspaper swap.
CBC Sudbury: Nov. 29, 2017. April Lindgren interviewed by local morning show about Postmedia/TorStar newspaper swap.
CBC Windsor: Nov. 29, 2017. April Lindgren interviewed by local morning show about Postmedia/TorStar newspaper swap.
TVO: Nov. 29, 2017. “Are community newspapers doomed?” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Globe and Mail: Nov. 28, 2017. “Ottawa not to blame for newspaper closings: Joly” sites research by April Lindgren’s Local News Research Project and includes a video interview with Ivor Shapiro. Click to read.
Newstalk 1010 Toronto, The Night Side with Barb DiGiulio: Nov. 28, 2017. Interview with April Lindgren on Torstar-Postmedia deal. Click to read.
CTV News: Nov. 27, 2017. “Competition Bureau to review Torstar-Postmedia deal to buy and close newspapers” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Global News: Nov. 27, 2017. “2 Kingston-area papers to close as part of Torstar/Postmedia swap” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Metro Toronto: Nov. 27, 2017. “Torstar, Postmedia announce community and daily paper deal” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Ottawa Business Journal: Nov. 27, 2017. “Nine Ottawa newspapers to close in wake of Torstar-Postmedia deal.” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Canadian Media Concentration Research Prokect: Nov. 14, 2017. “The Growth of the Network Media Economy in Canada, 1984-2016” sites April Lindgren’s Local News Research Project. Click to read.
Ryerson Review of Journalism: Nov. 2, 2017. “The Phoenix rises in Toronto’s west end” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Toronto Star: Oct. 7, 2017. “Dawn of a new hope for journalism” mentions April Lindgren‘s Local News Research Project and quotes Ivor Shapiro. Click to read.
Winnipeg Free Press: Sept. 29, 2017. “Papers left out: publishers – Feds pledge no new money for industry” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
The Canadian Press: Sept. 28, 2017. “Stop the presses? Newspapers snubbed in Liberal government’s cultural policy” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
The Canadian Press: Sept. 17, 2017. “New local media outlets crop up as traditional community papers close” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
The Conversation: Sept. 14, 2017. “When a squirrel dies: The rapid decline of local news” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Journalismresearchnews.ca: Aug. 14, 2017. “Twitter is no substitute to local news outlets” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Brampton Guardian: June 20, 2017. “Brampton council to vote on ‘anti-media’ motion” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CBC News: June 9, 2017. “‘This is an attempt at intimidation’: Brampton council proposal to hold media accountable compared to Trump” includes an interview with April Lindgren. Click to read.
TheRecord.com: June 8, 2017. “Brampton council takes aim at local media” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CBC News: May 30, 2017
“Can a Margaret Atwood-backed newspaper startup find success in Toronto’s west end?” includes an interview with April Lindgren on the challenge of newspaper startups maintaining financial stability. Click to read.
C2C Journal: March 7, 2017
“A world of information – and none of it’s local” includes an interview with April Lindgren about local news. Click to read.
The Toronto Star: Feb. 4, 2017
“Journalists are vanishing. Who will fill the void?” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
CKTB Radio St. Catherines: Jan. 27, 2017
April Lindgren interviewed about state of news media in Canada.
Toronto Star: Jan. 26, 2017
“Canadian journalism urged to tackle ‘culture of free’ to survive’ discusses Canadian Journalism Foundation panel that included April Lindgren. Click to read.
Radio 570 News Kitchener: Jan. 23, 2017
April Lindgren interviewed about local news poverty.
2016
Metro Toronto: Sept. 29, 2016
“Everyone can be duped by fake news sites, experts say as satire sites multiply” includes interview with Gavin Adamson.
Click to read.
J-Source: Nov. 9, 2016
“As the ink fades,” and article about printing plants and newspapers closing, cites April Lindgren’s Local News Map. Click to read.
The Daily Courier: Nov. 9, 2016
“UBC prof. creates crowdsourcing map to track changes in Canada’s media” discusses a research project by April Lindgren and University of British Columbia’s Jon Corbett.
Click to read.
iPolitics: Oct. 6, 2016
“Morning Brief” mentions April Lindgren’s presentation on local news as a witness to the Commons heritage committee.
Click to read.
No News is Bad News: Canada’s Media Collapse and What Comes Next by Ian Gill. Greystone Books/David Suzuki Institute. 2016. Profiles April Lindgren’s local news poverty project, pp 99-100
Motherboard/Vice: June 29, 2016
“This Map Shows Where and Why Local Newspapers Are Shutting Down” reports on April Lindgren’s News Poverty Map. Click to read.
Geothink: June 21, 2016
“Local News Map Will Be First to Highlight Disparities in Coverage Across Canada” covers April Lindgren’s interactive, crowd-sourced News Poverty Map. Click to read.
J-Source: June 14, 2016
“Crowd-sourced map tracks what’s happening to local news outlets across Canada” covers April Lindgren’s News Poverty Map, which is part of her Local News Research Project. Click to read.
Kings County Advertiser Register: April 26, 2016
“Newspapers are a mirror of the community” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
New Canadian Media: March 2, 2016
“Ethnic media demand more from City of Brampton” cites April Lindgren’s research on City of Brampton’s ethnic media strategy. Click to read.
New Canadian Media: Feb. 12, 2016
Interview with April Lindgren about immigrant journalists and public relations access. Click to read.
CBC Ontario Today: Feb 4, 2016
Includes April Lindgren on call-in show discussing the loss of local newspapers and why it matters. Click to listen.
CBC Maritime Noon: Feb 4, 2016
Includes April Lindgren as a guest on call-in show discussing the future of local news.
CBC News Nova Scotia, Editor & Publisher: Feb. 3, 2016
Interview with April Lindgren about news poverty and the Local News Research Project. Click to read.
CBC Superior North Thunder Bay: Feb. 1, 2016
Interview with April Lindgren about possible shut down of local TV station in Thunder Bay.
CBC News Network: Jan. 30, 2016
Interview with April Lindgren about news poverty and the loss of local news outlets.
Toronto Star: Jan. 29, 2016
“Bleak times for local journalism in Canada” quotes April Lindgren. Click to read.
Monocle Radio: Jan. 29, 2016
Interview with April Lindgren on the future of local newspapers.
Geothink.ca: Oct. 21, 2015
Interview with April Lindgren about use of municipal open data sources, geospatial web tools and data journalism. Click to read.
iPolitics: Oct. 14, 2015
Quotes April Lindgren on Conservative ethnic media ads claiming Liberals support brothels. Click to read.
Canadian Press: Oct, 7,2015
Quotes April Lindgren on including ethnic media in election coverage (picked up by Globe and Mail, Flamborough Review, iPolitics, The Huffington Post, The Hamilton Spector and TheRecord.com).
Click to read.
2015
CBC Thunder Bay Superior Morning, Sept. 2, 2015
April Lindgren speaks to CBC morning show about local news poverty and the closure of the Northern Sun newspaper in Red Lake, Ontario.
Canadian Press, National Post, iPolitics, The Prince George Citizen: June 19, 2015
Quotes April Lindgren about use of polls in political reporting. Click here to read.
2014
Le Devoir, October 15, 2014
Quotes April Lindgren. Click here to read.
Ottawa Citizen, October 10, 2014
Interview with April Lindgren on the Conservatives’ success with targeting ethnic media. Click here to read.
New Canadian Media, September 26, 2014
Discusses April Lindgren’s research on ethnic media election coverage. Click here to read.
J-Source, September 26, 2014
Interview with April Lindgren about new research on ethnic media election coverage. Click here to read.
Global News, May 12, 2014
Quotes April Lindgren on why photographys matter to politicians.
New Canadian Media, January 30, 2014
Q and A with April Lindgren about the role of ethnic media. Click here to read.
CBC, January 23, 2014
Quotes April Lindgren interviewed about ethnic media coverage of federal politics. Click here to read.
Embassy Magazine, January 22, 2014
April Lindgren interviewed about ethnic media coverage of federal politics.
2013
CBC, November 4, 2013
April Lindgren on Ford’s refusal to resign. Click here to watch.
The Agenda with Steve Paikin, October 30, 2013
April Lindgren discussed health of the ethnic press with other panelists. Click here to watch.
Kanadai Magyar Kulturkozpont, October 18, 2013
Coverage in Hungarian media of presentation by April Lindgren to Canadian Ethnic Media Association. Click here to read.
Estonian Life, October 11, 2013
Covers April Lindgren’s speech regarding ethnic reporting to the Canadian Ethnic Media Association. Click here to read.
OMNI- Mandarin newscast: , October 4, 2013
April Lindgren discussing local news in ethnic media.
Globe and Mail: July 27, 2013
April Lindgren interviewed about Punjabi-language media in Toronto. Click here to read.
CBC Information Morning: July 10, 2013
April Lindgren interviewed by St. John, N.B CBC about closure of local private radio stations.
Global National: July 5, 2013
April Lindgren interviewed about media coverage of Mayor Rob Ford controversy in Toronto.
Mississauga News, May 18, 2013
Canada’s ethnic newspapers: retelling a changing immigrant story quotes Prof. April Lindgren. Click here to read.
Radio Canada, May 6, 2013
Interview with Prof. April Lindgren about ethnic media following shut down of local Italian-language newspaper.
J-source, April 22, 2013
Journalist’s reporting style not suitable topic for closed-door council meetings; Ontario ombudsman quotes Prof. April Lindgren. Click here to read.
J-Source, April 2, 2013
Journalist’s reporting style not suitable topic for closed-door council meetings: Ontario Ombudsman
This article quotes Prof. April Lindgren. Click here to read.
CTV News Channel, CTV News: Express, March 7, 2013
Interview with Prof. April Lindgren on cuts at Toronto Star. Listen here.
Radio Canada, Radio Premiere Chaine, March 5, 2013
Interview with Prof. April Lindgren on cuts at Toronto Star.
New Canadian Media, January 16, 2013
Ryerson study makes case for more local content in ethnic media
Article on Prof. April Lindgren’s research. Click here to read.
2012
CBC Metro Morning, October 30, 2012
Prof April Lindgren discusses the news media’s crime coverage and neighbourhood stereotyping. Listen here.
Monocle 24: The Stack, October 20, 2012
Ryerson professor April Lindgren and Walrus editor John Macfarlane speak to Tyler Brulé, host of The Stack on Monocle 24. Listen here.
Dispatches International, August, 2012
Perspectives: Toronto’s Jane and Finch quotes April Lindgren. Click here to read.
2011
Openfile.ca, December 29, 2011
What can an ethnocultural newspaper tell us about our city?
Story on Ryerson professor April Lindgren’s research on local news content in ethnic news media Click here
The Link, Radio Canada International, December 14, 2011
Story features Ryerson professor April Lindgren’s research on local news content in ethnic news media Click here
Omni Television, November 28, 2011
Story feature’s April Lindgren’s research on local news content in ethnic news media
CBC Metro Morning, November 25, 2011
Story feature’s Ryerson professor April Lindgren’s research on local news content in ethnic news media
Ryerson professor April Lindgren interviewed about results of Ontario election campaign
AM640 (640 Toronto Radio), September 21, 2011
Story on Ontario election campaign strategy quotes Ryerson professor April Lindgren
Global News: Toronto, September 20, 2011
April Lindgren interviewed about politicians controlling perception on the campaign trail
CBC News: Toronto (CBLT-TV) Toronto, September 15, 2011
Discussion features Ryerson professor April Lindgren on provincial election polls