Alum Angelyn Francis named one of Canada's 100 most powerful women of 2021

Angelyn Francis, a ’16 graduate of the School of Journalism, has been named one of Canada’s most powerful women of 2021 by Women’s Executive Network. The award is given to those who “advocate for workforce diversity and inspire tomorrow’s leaders.”

Francis is currently an equity and inequality reporter with the Toronto Star and was recognized as part of the art, sports and entertainment category. 

She notes that journalism itself is inherently powerful. 

“You could look at it from two different perspectives and either think of it as something that’s obviously powerful, but then it’s also something that’s a tool and carries responsibility,” said Francis. “People think of power sometimes as finance, corporations, that sort of thing, versus things that are done in service of a community.”

While in school, Francis had debated whether she wanted to stay in the field. She noted that journalism can sometimes feel “more about a story that is made up of people but not quite about the people.”

“I’ve always been thinking about equity in the way that I do my work, in the way that I seek out sources, in the voices that I try to amplify, in the pitches that I make. That has been really wrapped up in my interests generally, so then my focus in my work kind of leans towards that naturally and I’ve had the opportunity to do that in the various places I’ve worked. Whether it was working in lifestyle, working in podcasting or reporting on different issues, I’ve kind of been able to do that and it’s something I wanted to see more of in the media because it’s not a very diverse landscape in Canada.”

A highlight for Francis this year was joining an advisory committee at the Star. The goal has been to ensure coverage of marginalized and racialized groups is fair and that such communities are being covered well.

Francis says that going forward, she’ll continue trying to pay it forward by mentoring and helping younger journalists in the field.

“I want to be a tool for people who want to continue to tell great stories, to uncover truths and hold people to a high standard, to improve life and entertain people while doing it too.”