Michael John Lo
@michaeljohnlo.bsky.social
Skeetin' from Victoria, Canada. Reporter with the Times Colonist newspaper, prev. words in the Globe and Mail, The Tyee, Capital Daily & more. He/him. Allergic to eggplant, shrimp, lobster.
Pinned
buckle-up for extremely niche tweets about Victoria BC
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/f...
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Federal government to provide up to $6M for Royal Athletic Park upgrades
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said the funding will go toward upgrading the park “a little more quickly than we had hoped.”
www.timescolonist.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/f...
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Reposted by Michael John Lo
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Michael John Lo
BC's anti-SLAPP legislation was critical to keeping a meritless lawsuit @torimarlan.bsky.social and I faced to the "affordable" sum of ~$50k in legal fees. Journalists like Luke not protected by these laws have much higher exposure — even when, like us, they did nothing wrong.
In other provinces, journalists can use anti-SLAPP legislation to challenge lawsuits when they believe they are groundless or undermine the public interest
Alberta has no such laws, leaving journalists vulnerable to long and expensive legal battles
I believe that is fundamentally bad for democracy
Alberta has no such laws, leaving journalists vulnerable to long and expensive legal battles
I believe that is fundamentally bad for democracy
November 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
BC's anti-SLAPP legislation was critical to keeping a meritless lawsuit @torimarlan.bsky.social and I faced to the "affordable" sum of ~$50k in legal fees. Journalists like Luke not protected by these laws have much higher exposure — even when, like us, they did nothing wrong.
This freaking unmute/mute clownshow...
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This freaking unmute/mute clownshow...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
🚨Scoop: Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont says he is considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
Conservative MP says he’s considering joining Canada’s Liberal government
The stunning twist moves Mark Carney one step closer to a secure hold on the prime minister’s office until 2029.
www.politico.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
🚨Scoop: Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont says he is considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
absolute loss for teen vogue
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 8:21 PM
absolute loss for teen vogue
Been hugely enjoying the live coverage put out by the Globe and Mail team for the Jays games this weeked. This update from @grahamisador.bsky.social made me laugh:
November 2, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Been hugely enjoying the live coverage put out by the Globe and Mail team for the Jays games this weeked. This update from @grahamisador.bsky.social made me laugh:
A OneBC political staffer is organizing a rally in Victoria this Sunday to "raise awareness about the alarming rise in antisemitism and to stand united for safety, respect, and protection of our Jewish community."
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
October 31, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A OneBC political staffer is organizing a rally in Victoria this Sunday to "raise awareness about the alarming rise in antisemitism and to stand united for safety, respect, and protection of our Jewish community."
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
Reposted by Michael John Lo
The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through FOI by @stephenharrison.bsky.social
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Victoria police spent $22K on party for outgoing, incoming chiefs | CBC News
The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration that honoured its outgoing and incoming police chiefs, according to a freedom of information request.
www.cbc.ca
October 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through FOI by @stephenharrison.bsky.social
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
"since 2009"
An estimated 1.73 million vehicles were repossessed last year, the most since 2009.
October 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"since 2009"
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Nothing like sports ad breaks to remind you of all four Canadian companies
October 30, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Nothing like sports ad breaks to remind you of all four Canadian companies
Reposted by Michael John Lo
I'm really glad Stephen keeps such a close eye on the goings on related to our local police department
It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets
It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets
VicPD held a party for their outgoing and incoming chiefs this summer at Government House. They talked repeatedly about how much work it was, and the event seemed strange, so I FOI'd the costs. They spent $22,015 in public money on this event. 🧵 www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/vicpd-p... #yyj #cdnfoi
VicPD parties at Government House for $22,000 — Needs More Spikes
This summer, VicPD used its bottomless budget to throw a party for their outgoing and incoming chiefs. Via FOI, we now know that event cost $22,015.
www.needsmorespikes.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I'm really glad Stephen keeps such a close eye on the goings on related to our local police department
It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets
It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets
Reposted by Michael John Lo
I once talked publicly about this as an intern, and it nearly destroyed my career before it even started. They even went after my (unrelated) guiding career! Really fun stuff.
its wild how many media outlets take oodles of oil and gas money. like, immoral and craven sums
October 27, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I once talked publicly about this as an intern, and it nearly destroyed my career before it even started. They even went after my (unrelated) guiding career! Really fun stuff.
Excited for this!!
Hi so I'm about to launch a Canadian healthcare newsletter with @pressprogress.ca
If you sign up, I'll be in your inbox 2x a month w exclusive health news, info, research, and more, all broken down and digestible for you.
1st edition goes out soon, see for yourself! pressprogress.ca/pulsecheck/
If you sign up, I'll be in your inbox 2x a month w exclusive health news, info, research, and more, all broken down and digestible for you.
1st edition goes out soon, see for yourself! pressprogress.ca/pulsecheck/
Sign Up for PressProgress’ Pulse Check Newsletter
Hello! It’s me, Brishti, your friendly neighbourhood health reporter, asking you to invite me into your inbox to bring you Pulse Check, a regular Canadian healthcare-focused email newsletter. It’s one...
pressprogress.ca
October 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Excited for this!!
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Fun fact: the far edge of the Dodger Stadium parking lot is roughly the same distance from the stadium as the Skydome is from Canada's largest transport hub.
World Series, Stadium Edition: Rogers Centre vs. Dodger Stadium 🤔
October 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Fun fact: the far edge of the Dodger Stadium parking lot is roughly the same distance from the stadium as the Skydome is from Canada's largest transport hub.
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Ever since Google started gobbling up all of our guides and barfing them up in their AI results, we've shifted the food coverage at @phillymag.com to be more story-forward, with some service tucked inside. Here's a great example of how we're trying to stay ahead and still give readers great recs:
Where Have Philly's Greek Restaurants Gone?
Dmitri’s, Effie's, and Center City's Little Pete's may be gone, but you can still get great Greek food if you know where to look.
www.phillymag.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Ever since Google started gobbling up all of our guides and barfing them up in their AI results, we've shifted the food coverage at @phillymag.com to be more story-forward, with some service tucked inside. Here's a great example of how we're trying to stay ahead and still give readers great recs:
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Daniel Kolitz (@danielkolitz.bsky.social) delves into the GoonVerse and reports on loneliness, porn, and the dream of endless masturbation.
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...
The Goon Squad, by Daniel Kolitz
Loneliness, porn’s next frontier, and the dream of endless masturbation
harpers.org
October 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Daniel Kolitz (@danielkolitz.bsky.social) delves into the GoonVerse and reports on loneliness, porn, and the dream of endless masturbation.
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
My experience isn't universal, but I use group texts w friends much more than social media. Much more than 10 years ago. (You can sort of tell who needs friends and group chats when they use, like, Twitter to share embarrassing personal info or selfies that will be made fun of.)
I wrote about how and why social media has largely become boring and why it's a bad idea to eat your own brain: www.forkingpaths.co/p/is-social-...
Is social media just...boring now?
Social media is destroying democracy and accelerating idiocracy. But it's also just...really, really boring.
www.forkingpaths.co
October 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
My experience isn't universal, but I use group texts w friends much more than social media. Much more than 10 years ago. (You can sort of tell who needs friends and group chats when they use, like, Twitter to share embarrassing personal info or selfies that will be made fun of.)
Would this be a record number of parties in the house for the province?
Meanwhile, it looks like the BC Conservative caucus is shrinking again and BC may soon have a 5th party in the house #bcpoli
October 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Would this be a record number of parties in the house for the province?
There's about 20 people in council chambers listening to council ask questions on this agenda item. One guy showed up wearing a shirt saying "no extra 41,000 homes."
Hammond, Marg, and the rest of the anti-housing community shouting "Everything is contentious!" #yyjpoli
Staff: We don't know what's considered contentious. And Council didn't give direction to give updates on in-stream applications. Notification would still be the same for residents and occupants as there would be during a public hearing anyway, so still chance for feedback to be provided.
October 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
There's about 20 people in council chambers listening to council ask questions on this agenda item. One guy showed up wearing a shirt saying "no extra 41,000 homes."
Reposted by Michael John Lo
hoping to see my former coworkers' new publication, a nonprofit news co-op to replace the Glacier papers that closed earlier this year, flourish and help prove a different model for journalism
www.freshetnews.ca/a-new-beginn...
www.freshetnews.ca/a-new-beginn...
A new beginning for local news in Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities - Freshet News
The Freshet News is a new voice for Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities with a mission to put community back in community news.
www.freshetnews.ca
October 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
hoping to see my former coworkers' new publication, a nonprofit news co-op to replace the Glacier papers that closed earlier this year, flourish and help prove a different model for journalism
www.freshetnews.ca/a-new-beginn...
www.freshetnews.ca/a-new-beginn...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
When I applied, the site refused to acknowledge I wasn't a malicious hacker until I connected to it using my mobile data rather than my home connection. So if you're having trouble applying, try a different connection method. Also, they sent me an email that went straight to spam.
The system works!
The system works!
Canadian bread settlement: How to get your slice of the $500 million payout
Here's what to know about the Canadian packaged bread class actions settlement and how you can get your slice of the money.
vancouversun.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
When I applied, the site refused to acknowledge I wasn't a malicious hacker until I connected to it using my mobile data rather than my home connection. So if you're having trouble applying, try a different connection method. Also, they sent me an email that went straight to spam.
The system works!
The system works!