By Emily Putnam
Luke LeBrun’s journey, from Carleton classrooms to award-winning journalism, underscores the transformative power of critical inquiry and fearless storytelling in confronting wicked contemporary challenges.
For PressProgress Editor Luke LeBrun, confronting controversy is business as usual.
A Carleton English alum, PressProgress Editor, ConvoyWatch creator, and an award-winning writer, LeBrun says winning the Arnold Amber Award was a reassuring moment for the investigative journalism community in Canada.
“Given all the wealthy and powerful interests out there who want to shut down critical journalism in Canada, awards like these send a strong message that the journalism community stands behind and encourages investigative journalists who take risks by challenging power,” explains LeBrun.
The Arnold Amber Award, named for the late CWA Director Arnold Amber—a trailblazing CBC executive producer, union leader, and advocate for journalistic freedom—celebrates journalists like LeBrun who hold power to account. LeBrun accepted the award on October 23 at the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s annual gala in Toronto.
Since joining PressProgress in 2013, LeBrun has focused on exposing and critically analyzing right-wing politics and far-right extremism. His investigative work has covered a diverse range of topics, including far-right book festivals, alleged Russian propaganda operations, and a right-wing media website linked to a Shopify executive.
He draws attention to the broader implications of his work, stating, “For decades, we’ve been seeing the rise of a global right-wing movement that fundamentally wants to disrupt and dismantle the social, economic and democratic institutions built-up during the 20th century that were supposed to create a more peaceful, equal and democratic society.”
During the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests, LeBrun’s reporting provided critical insights into the convoy’s impact on Ottawa’s neighborhoods and rural communities. His work filled a gap in media coverage, shedding light on the many deep seated societal rifts that were exposed by the pandemic.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, our society broke in profound ways, and we saw small but vocal groups with extreme, hateful and conspiratorial views begin to organize and network with one another,” says LeBrun.
This pivotal moment and experience inspired him to launch ConvoyWatch, a pop-up newsletter that provides in-depth reporting on far-right convoy activities across Canada.
“One day everyone in Ottawa woke up and found hundreds of vehicles parked in our streets because Ottawa Police abandoned our residential neighbourhoods to conspiratorial people with signs about vaccines and QAnon,” he recalls.
Like many Canadians, the experience had a tremendous impact on him, underscoring both the fragility of societal norms and the indispensable role of investigative journalism.
“That was a moment that not only showed me the very real threat these groups pose, but also the way investigative journalism can put real pressure on those in power and give power back to our communities”.
LeBrun credits his time in Carleton’s English Department for sharpening the critical thinking skills that underpin his investigative work.
“The benefit of an English degree goes beyond the ability to recall the name of Odysseus’ dog (Argos) or impress house guests by speaking in iambic pentameter at dinner parties,” quips LeBrun.
“The real value of an English degree is that it teaches you how to think critically about language and synthesize new information.”
LeBrun emphasizes that effective communication begins with critical thought.
“I don’t think it is possible to be a good writer, or any kind of effective communicator, unless you are able to critically process the information you are consuming and critically reflect on the information you send back out to the world.”
While pursuing his Master’s degree, LeBrun collaborated with Professor Brian Greenspan’s HyperLab, exploring the intersection of humanities and digital technology. This experience, he says, prepared him for the evolving challenges of modern journalism.
“Whether you work professionally as a writer, whether you’re in technology or business, whether you’re doing a blue-collar skilled-trade, being able to assess and question information will open up opportunities that would be unavailable otherwise.”
He also notes he worked closely with Dr. Chris Eaket in the Hyperlab as a Teaching Assistant.
“Considering the strange new world journalism has entered into in the digital age, that experience has been influential in helping me navigate a media environment where we are sharing information and telling stories in different formats or figuring out how to continually incorporate new technologies and new communications platforms into our repertoires as reporters.”
LeBrun draws a direct parallel between his academic training and his investigative work.
“English, as well as History, often involves a lot of digging through archives and old texts to piece things together from primary and secondary sources,” he notes. “Sometimes I think back to sifting through historical documents at Library and Archives Canada or scanning microfiche reels in the basement of the MacOdrum Library while I’m investigating stories using Freedom of Information requests, corporate records or old newspaper archives.”
For LeBrun, meaningful storytelling is key to impactful writing.
“Writing is a form of communication, make sure you have something important and meaningful to communicate to other people.”