Canada's National Observer announces Jimmy Thomson as Editor-in-Chief

Canada's National Observer is thrilled to share several important changes to our leadership team.

Jimmy Thomson has been promoted to Editor-in-Chief. His background includes award-winning environmental reporting, investigations that changed national fisheries policy, and editorial leadership at publications like the Capital Daily. Jimmy's work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Guardian, The Walrus, The Narwhal, CBC and The Washington Post.

"Jimmy's appointment comes at a pivotal time for journalism in North America," said Linda Solomon Wood, Publisher and Founder of Canada's National Observer. "His leadership approach makes him ideal for this role. He is ambitious to find stories that matter and will empower our team to deliver journalism with impact, clarity and context. Readers can expect great things in the coming year: deeper investigative reporting, more nuanced coverage of climate, politics and democracy issues, and journalism that not only identifies problems but explores potential solutions. I'm so excited to welcome Jimmy to this new role."

As Jimmy assumes the Editor-in-Chief position, CNO extends its gratitude to Adrienne Tanner, who will be leaving her role as Editor-in-Chief to become "Columnist-at-Large." Over the past several years, Adrienne has made CNO stronger, guiding our journalists to produce consistently excellent climate coverage while creating operational stability. She has recruited new talent and built an outstanding team who will now work with Jimmy. 

“I’m so appreciative of Adrienne’s guidance and leadership these past years to get this team to where they are,” Jimmy said. “She’s set up Canada’s National Observer to take its next step with confidence and skill, and built a team that operates on mutual respect and a strong drive to do good work. I’m grateful to her — and to Linda — for trusting me with the wheel as Adrienne enters her new career phase.” 

She will not be going far upon departing the Editor-in-Chief role; Adrienne has had an outstanding 30-year career as a journalist and editor, but her great love is writing. In her new column, she will comment on the issues of the day, bringing her deep insight to analysis of matters critical to Canadians.

“It’s been my honour to work with Linda and the entire CNO staff,” Adrienne said. “They are a smart and dedicated group and I know they will continue on with their fabulous work. I look forward to joining them all in print.” 

Other key leadership changes in the newsroom include:

• David McKie moves from Deputy Managing Editor to Managing Editor, anchoring our national coverage from Parliament Hill with his extensive background in data-driven journalism and investigative reporting.
• John Woodside becomes our Ottawa Bureau Chief.

Additional team updates include:

• Ramneet Bhullar takes on the role of Marketing and Engagement Lead as Tim Lam departs for a new opportunity.
• Rose Danen joins us from The Walrus as our first-ever Newsletter Editor.
• Kiran Honrado Wood becomes our first data analyst intern.

CNO is a unique multi-media platform that has been built story by story, podcast by podcast, subscription by subscription, over 10 years. Under this renewed leadership, CNO will continue to strengthen its position as a leader in public interest journalism, focusing on climate change, government accountability, energy and economy, and solutions-oriented reporting that serves Canadians' need for information and inspiration.