About

My blog contains stories in the following categories:
* FILM
* JOURNALISM
* MUSIC
* Published Writing
* URBAN ISSUES – Toronto

I’m currently a Masters of Journalism student, new media and new music enthusiast, arts & culture editor at the Ryerson Free Press and freelance writer and burgeoning radio producer in Toronto, Canada.

I decided to start this so that I can post articles that I write for various publications and purposes all in one place. I’ll be making an effort to post the articles here with a brief description of where the original article appeared, and maybe a bit about why I wrote it. I’ll also write some opinion pieces and share my news.

Thanks for reading,
Amanda
amanda[at]womenoftechno.com

If you’re unfamiliar with my work or what to expect, here’s a little more:

My involvement in media has been a consistent passion since I started making fan-’zines about bands and djs at fourteen. Since then I have sought out opportunities to experiment with a wide range of media roles. In university I studied semiotics and socio-cultural anthropology. As a result of those theoretical learnings I have sometimes incorporated related-insights into my freelance journalism by considering issues of globalization, postmodern art forms, new digital technologies, the effects of corporate sponsorship on cultural production and cultural identity politics.

My goal now is to work in broadcast media (film, tv, radio) in the roles of researcher, writer and producer or to get a job as a writer. Prior to starting my masters degree in journalism I worked in documentary film, and I gained experience in the day-to-day processes of a small creative team engaged in alternative media production. I saw firsthand how an emergent film-making process can serve as a catalyst for a community development process.

I am inspired by the work of Naomi Klein. Although she exposes the often destructive aspects of globalization, as in No Logo, she does this in ways that do not overshadow the possibility of human action for constructive change. Her film, The Take, was an exciting, fast-paced docu-drama – the kind I dream of creating some day.

Social justice, globalization, techno music, indie rock, youth subcultures, public space struggles, technology, environmentalism – these ideas make me tick.

I am plugged in to magazines like The Walrus, Psychology Today and Toronto Life. I listen to CBC Radio – Q, DNTO, The Current and Here and Now. Sometimes I watch shows like The Hour, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, CBC Newsworld and DemocracyNow!

I’m constantly up-dating my playlist from advice from friends and websites, so this list changes weekly. Some of my favourite artists are Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Moderat, Otis Redding, Royksopp, Louderbach, Ellen Allien, Junior Boys, Jason Collett, Arcade Fire, Metric, Hot Chip, Feist, The Knife, Chromeo, Kayne West, Lykke Li, Lilly Allen, Of Montreal, Swayzak, Tv on the radio, Jamie Lidell, Kings of Convenience, Sigur Ros, Sebastien Tellier, Lali Puna and more!