In an era of misinformation and diminishing trust, fact-checking has become more than a routine newsroom task.

In the second episode of our 2026 season, host Emma Miller sits down with experienced Journalist and MRU Journalism Professor, Brooks DeCillia.

They discuss the state of journalism today, how mistrust in the media is impacting newsrooms, and how fact-checking should be viewed as an act of moral and professional courage.

Through exploring the evolving social pressures and technological challenges that journalists face, this conversation explores what it means to commit to seeking the truth when the stakes are at their highest.

Their conversation is based on an article DeCillia wrote for J-Source back in March of 2025, titled Fact-checking as an act of courage.

For more information on spotting fake-news and misinformation, check out MRUnderstanding Misinformation.

To learn more about the Community Podcast Initiative, you can visit the website at thepodcaststudio.ca or on socials at @communitypodyyc

Welcome back for the fourth season of the Community Podcast Initiative (CPI) series.

In this episode, we are taking a look back to a keynote lecture presented at Mount Royal University in April of 2025.

Visiting from RMIT University and the University of Tasmania, Mia Lindgren hosted a discussion relating to her work and research on the ethics of intimacy and parasocial relationship building in podcasting.

Lindgren explores the advantages and disadvantages that the audio medium contributes to the journalistic landscape - as well as growing public mistrust in the media.

You can find more on Mia Lindgren’s research on podcasting here.

To learn more about the Community Podcast Initiative, you can visit the website at thepodcaststudio.ca or on socials at @communitypodyyc

In this episode, the Community Podcast Initiative (CPI) presents a panel discussion

Where four diverse voices from the media and podcasting landscape consider the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Ranging from repercussions in the classroom to its sometimes invaluable benefit in the journalistic field, this episode explores how AI is changing standards and practices across fields.

CPI’s Meg Wilcox, is joined by Amanda Cupido, Anis Heydari, Mia Lindgren, and Tim Magee. Meg helps moderate this panel of professionals through thought-provoking prompts and questions that help guide understanding towards the ever-evolving topic of A.I.

This series is a collaboration between the Community Podcast Initiative at Mount Royal University and J-Source.

To learn more about the Community Podcast Initiative, you can visit the website at thepodcaststudio.ca or on socials at @communitypodyyc

To learn more about the J-Source, you can visit the website at j-source.ca or on socials at @jsource