Bobby Hristova

Thank you for everything, #HamOnt

This story aimed to give voice to an often-unseen reality and I did my best to cover it with sensitivity and precision. I hope it continues to drive dialogue and progress.

Segregation rates in Ontario jails are rising. Here's why putting prisoners in 'the hole' is raising alarms | CBC News Ontario has long faced calls to end segregation in its jails, but a CBC investigation shows prisoners are being isolated more often. In Hamilton, it's happening at a higher rate than elsewhere in the ...

I'm humbled to see my investigation for CBC Hamilton into segregation at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre is an RTDNA finalist in the central region for multiplatform enterprise reporting. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #hamont #cdnfoi #osint #rtdna #cdnmedia

The price of patriotism: Have grocers boosted the cost of some iconic Canadian brands? | CBC News Marketplace analyzed price data from one downtown Toronto Loblaws store from the start of the year to find out if products that are ‘Prepared in Canada’ have increased in price

From @bobbyhristova.bsky.social and I this weekend: we took a look at a few iconic Canadian products that have increased in price since the trade war began, and ask experts: is this a maple tax?

of course, as many things in our world are, it's complicated!

at Marketplace, my colleague @bobbyhristova.bsky.social and I are working on a series of stories about prices of consumers goods in the midst of potential "maple washing" and tariffs. got any examples? send them my way!

Hey, parents: Advertisers could be using mobile games to build profiles about your kids | CBC News A Marketplace investigation has pulled back the curtain on how some mobile games, which seem to attract children, use loopholes in rules protecting kids’ data — allowing marketers to build advertising...

NEW: Hey, parents: Advertisers could be using mobile games to build profiles about your kids

www.cbc.ca/news/marketp...

When is a deal really a deal? We tracked prices at Old Navy and Canadian Tire to find out | CBC News Marketplace tracks sale items at popular stores and reveals false discounts, including products that are always on sale and some that are advertised on big sales days, but are actually cheaper during ...

NEW: My latest investigation with CBC’s Marketplace saw our team track the price of items sold at Old Navy and Canadian Tire for months.

We wanted to see how often those items went on sale and whether the prices were true discounts.

Here’s what we found: www.cbc.ca/news/marketp...

Are you a parent who is concerned about how much time your child spends playing games on their phone?

If so, please send me a message because I want to hear from you!

Local news matters: CBC to hire more journalists, launch new platforms | CBC News There are a number of important initiatives underway to build CBC News service and connection in small communities — including a significant expansion of local journalism in underserved markets.

A huge announcement by CBC here - it will hire up to 30 new journalists in 22 locations in a n effort to tell stories in underserved communities.

Two of those locations are Oshawa and Niagara Region. www.cbc.ca/news/editors... #cdnmedia #localnewsmatters

Donate to Support laid off TVO workers, organized by Natasha Bulowski We are raising funds for 16 laid off TVO-Canadian Media Guild members. TVO cruelly laid … Natasha Bulowski needs your support for Support laid off TVO workers

If you’re able, please consider donating to this independent fundraiser for TVO workers who were laid off just before the holidays.

https://buff.ly/3BJYX37

LinkedIn for Journalists Premium Program Enroll today for access to the latest tips, experts and tools like LinkedIn Premium.

I don't gatekeep, so here’s a tip for any journalist – and especially investigative reporters.

Reporters, editors and freelancers can apply to get a year of free access to LinkedIn Premium Business, which lets you send unlimited customized invites to people.

business.linkedin.com/cx/linkedin-...

A lit, decorated Christmas tree standing next to a TV displaying a fireplace and a small table with Christmas decorations.

Happy Holidays!

Toronto police skipped ‘Homicide 101’ and never sought alibis from family and friends of murdered billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman Investigative sources tell the Star the lack of alibis is likely why homicide detectives have been unable to clear any of the many “persons of interest” suspected of having a

Kevin Donovan’s tireless battle to unseal Toronto police documents filed in court continues to unearth new details about missteps while investigating the Sherman murders.

www.thestar.com/news/investi...

And you could also ask them to send the data in a spreadsheet or “digital, machine-readable format.”

For news nerds (this is pure speculation) I imagine the wording of the FOI would be something like:

"Daily accommodation charge revenue and number of patients charged, broken down by fiscal year, from 2019 to the most recent data available."

Alberta hospital patients waiting to move into continuing care are paying millions in fees | CBC News The Alberta government says the number of patients occupying hospital beds without needing that level of care is a key driver of the need to overhaul the provincial health-care system. Such patients a...

Great use of #cdnfoi and data by Nicholas Frew that shows how Alberta hospital patients waiting to move into continuing care are paying millions in fees.

It's a numbers story that doesn't feel like a numbers story and uses nice, clean graphics.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Canada Post union head opens up about receiving racialized threats — and why postal workers deserve a big wage increase 'She said I ruined her Christmas.' Union head Jan Simpson has fielded angry calls from across the country in pursuit of an agreement with the Crown postal service. Here’s what

“'We have the ability to do work on the weekend with full-time staff at the same regular pay that they receive now. So for us, that’s the big sticking point,' said Simpson. 'They want to basically gig-ify a Crown corporation.'” 
https://buff.ly/3ZMEZOs #CdnPoli #Labour #CanadaPost #CUPW

Some simple but effective advice for journalists looking to act now:

- Contact journalists doing the work you aspire to do. Ask them to chat

- Consume and analyze the sort of journalism you aspire to do

- Spend some time with the tools you want to use and take small steps to learn them.

4/4

If we can teach local reporters how to file records requests, use open data, implement OSINT, code, and navigate the courts, it would boost the quality of local journalism — and I think the audience would see it right away.

A lot of that comes down to the priorities of newsroom managers though. 3/4

Steven D’Souza said: “Every single reporter should have these tools so that they can do the same kind of work … so that it's not a mystery, that it's not this, you know, magical elixir that only The Fifth Estate can do.”

I completely agree, especially for local reporters. 2/4

What is the future of investigative journalism? | The Fifth Estate YouTube video by The Fifth Estate

For anyone who missed it, The Fifth Estate recently hosted a conversation about the future of investigative journalism.

There are lots of takeaways for people with all levels of journalism experience, but let me harp on one point I heard that really resonates. 1/4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk6t...

Just left a tip? There's a chance the worker you left it for won't get it | CBC News Marketplace visited 100 businesses undercover to find out who’s asking for tips and where they end up. Data also shows employees across Canada have filed hundreds of complaints about "tip theft".

The announcement came on the week after CBC's Marketplace shared its investigation into tip theft across the country. www.cbc.ca/news/marketp...

amends | CBC News The Saskatchewan government is making changes to its labour and employment rules.

The Saskatchewan government is changing its employment act to prohibit employers from withholding tips from their employees.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Proposed class-action lawsuit accuses companies of price-fixing rents in Canada | CBC News A proposed class-action lawsuit alleges more than a dozen landlords and property managers have conspired to artificially inflate rents across Canada. The suit claims they did it by using a piece of so...

Proposed class-action lawsuit accuses companies of price-fixing rents in Canada www.cbc.ca/news/busines...

So it’s been about a week and a half since The Hatchet launched, and we hit some big milestones over the weekend! Over 1000 subscribers, 100 of whom are paying. If you haven’t already, come join and help build something new! hatchetmedia.substack.com

It’s a good consideration for sure. I suppose a counterargument could be that you choose what passwords to manage on the platform. You don’t necessarily have to store really sensitive passwords there. Valid point nonetheless.

1Password for Journalists | 1Password We believe in a free press and open Internet. If you’re a journalist working towards this goal, we want to give you the tools needed to stay safe online.

I don’t like gatekeeping, so here’s a fun fact for journalists, particularly those who value privacy.

You can apply to get free access to 1Password, a password manager that Wirecutter says is “above the rest.”

Here’s the link to apply: 1password.com/for-journali...

My latest investigation with CBC’s Marketplace saw our team use hidden cameras to find out who’s asking for tips — and who’s keeping that money

www.cbc.ca/news/marketp...

We spoke to experts, a former prisoner who was in segregation, the union representing correctional officers and the province.

Read the full story to find out what they said. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

It's important to note most people in provincial jails haven't been convicted for the charges that landed them behind bars.

Data from provincial courthouses also shows half cases that were before Ontario courts in 2022 ended up being withdrawn or stayed before trial.

6/7