Northern Focus relies on contributions from readers, community members, and public officials to uncover stories that matter across Canada. If you have information about municipal policy, provincial developments, business news, or community angles with national relevance, we want to hear from you. This page explains what makes a strong tip, how to send it securely, and what happens after you reach out.
What makes a good tip for Northern Focus?
A good tip is specific, verifiable, and tied to a public-interest story that affects Canadian readers. We look for leads on municipal policy changes, provincial legislative developments, business trends, technology shifts, and community stories that reveal something new about how local decisions shape daily life.
Strong tips often include documents, meeting notes, internal correspondence, or firsthand observations. For example, a tip about a city council voting on a transit contract without public debate, or a provincial policy change that quietly alters funding for rural healthcare, would interest our Municipal Affairs Editor Hannah Walsh or Provincial Affairs Editor Jessica Morin. Community angles—like a neighbourhood group fighting a development without proper consultation—are equally valuable when they connect to broader Canadian issues.
Avoid vague or unverifiable claims. Tips that name specific people, dates, and sources are far more likely to be pursued. If you have a business tip about a company’s practices affecting regional economies, include financial records or regulatory filings if possible.
How do I send a tip to Northern Focus?
Send your tip to tips@northernfocus.org for general news leads, newsdesk@northernfocus.org for time-sensitive developments, or press@northernfocus.org for press releases and official announcements. Each address reaches the appropriate editor directly.
For municipal or transit stories, copying Hannah Walsh (hannah.walsh@northernfocus.org) can speed review. For provincial policy or economics, include Jessica Morin (jessica.morin@northernfocus.org). Community events and local culture tips should go to Kevin Sullivan (kevin.sullivan@northernfocus.org). If you are unsure, use tips@northernfocus.org and our team will route it correctly.
What should I include in my tip?
Include your name and a reliable contact method—email or phone—so we can follow up. Provide a clear summary of the information, why it matters to Canadian readers, and any supporting evidence such as documents, photos, recordings, or links to public records.
If you have sensitive documents, describe what they contain without sending them initially. We will arrange secure transfer after initial review. Avoid sending large attachments unless requested. For anonymous tips, see the confidentiality section below.
How does Northern Focus verify tips?
Our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Andrew Leblanc (andrew.leblanc@northernfocus.org) oversees verification for all tips. Every lead is checked against multiple sources, public records, and direct interviews before publication. We never publish unverified claims.
Our fact-checking policy and Sources & Standards page detail how we confirm information. Andrew’s team cross-references documents, contacts named individuals, and reviews official data. If a tip cannot be verified, we will not publish it. We also check for potential bias or conflicts of interest in the source.
What about confidentiality and anonymous tips?
We protect confidential sources to the fullest extent possible under Canadian law. If you request anonymity, we will not share your identity with anyone outside the editorial team without your explicit consent. You can send tips anonymously using a secure email account or through encrypted channels—contact tips@northernfocus.org to arrange this.
We assess anonymous tips with extra scrutiny. Without a named source, we rely on documentary evidence and independent corroboration. If you provide verifiable documents or records, your anonymity is still protected. We never pressure sources to reveal themselves.
What happens after I submit a tip?
Your tip is logged and reviewed by the relevant editor within two business days. If it matches our editorial mission and is verifiable, it may be assigned to a reporter for further investigation. You will receive a confirmation reply, though we cannot guarantee a timeline for publication.
If we decide not to pursue the tip, we will notify you briefly. We do not provide detailed explanations for every decision due to volume. Tips that are commercial pitches, personal grievances, or unrelated to Canadian public-interest journalism are not considered.
What you can expect from us
You can expect a professional, respectful process. We will treat your information with care, verify thoroughly before publishing, and credit you if you agree to be named. We will not publish anything based solely on a single anonymous tip without corroboration.
Our editorial team—led by Editor-in-Chief Catherine Roy—commits to transparency. If we use your tip, we will explain how it was verified and what it adds to the public record. We will also correct any errors promptly under our corrections policy.
How do I report a correction or error?
If you see a mistake in a story that originated from a tip, send details to corrections@northernfocus.org. Include the article URL, the error, and the correct information. Andrew Leblanc’s team reviews every correction request and updates the article with a note explaining the change.
Our corrections policy outlines how we handle errors. We take accuracy seriously and will correct promptly, whether the error is in a fact, a name, or a date.
Questions or concerns?
For general questions about tipping us, contact info@northernfocus.org. For editorial concerns, reach Catherine Roy at editorial@northernfocus.org or +1 416 555 0220. For complaints about our process, see our complaints procedure. We are committed to serving Canadian readers with trustworthy regional journalism.