Megan O’Toole is an award-winning investigative and data journalist with a career spanning two decades. She has reported from more than a dozen countries worldwide on topics ranging from the war on ISIS, to the Gaza siege, to the economic impact of US sanctions on Iran, to the refugee crisis along the Mediterranean. As an international editor, she has managed hundreds of journalists across five continents, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa region. She is also a founding member of Bellingcat’s Global Authentication Project, contributing to an open-source investigation of potential war crimes in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Megan’s work has won a variety of accolades, including three awards from Amnesty International for her coverage of indigenous land rights and environmental justice. She was part of the largest collaborative investigation in Canadian journalism history, Tainted Water, a prize-winning series that exposed unsafe levels of lead in drinking water and spurred government action from coast to coast. A Pulitzer Center grantee, Megan has served as a global mentor with the Coalition for Women in Journalism, a judge for the Online Journalism Awards, and a panel moderator at a United Nations climate summit. She also delivers guest lectures on collaborative journalism at the master’s level.

RESUME

BELLINGCAT

Volunteer Researcher, 2022-present

  • Member since inception of the invite-only Global Authentication Project.
  • Uses open-source research to geolocate potential war crimes.

FREELANCE

Reporter and Editor, 2019-present

  • Produces award-winning multimedia journalism on human rights issues.
  • Handles complex structural edits for local and international clients.

MIDDLE EAST EYE

Columns Editor, 2018-present

  • Provides senior editorial leadership for columnists across the Middle East.
  • Plans and manages content in collaboration with all digital teams.

AL JAZEERA

Producer and Deputy Editor, 2013-2018

  • Managed the Middle East and North Africa desk for aljazeera.com.
  • Travelled frequently throughout the region to cover major stories.

NATIONAL POST

News Reporter, 2008-2013

  • Specialized in legal and political reporting, routinely breaking stories.
  • Provided comprehensive coverage of city hall and court proceedings.

TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

Legislative Reporter, 2008

  • Broke major stories about education, health and transportation.
  • Covered the daily workings of New Brunswick’s provincial legislature.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Front-page Editor, 2005-2008

  • Edited copy, designed layout and shaped front-page story lineup.
  • Participated in a strategy to redesign Canada’s national newspaper.

THE LONDON FREE PRESS

City Reporter, 2004-2005

  • Reported on crime, politics and business on a general assignment basis.
  • Generated a weekly column about events in London’s arts community.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Hostile environment and first aid training
  • Experienced in SQL, Excel, Python and geolocation
  • World Press Photo digital photography training
  • Intermediate French and beginner Arabic skills

EDUCATION

  • Master of Investigative and Data Journalism, University of King’s College
  • Appointed to the National Student Investigative Reporting Network
  • Honours BA in English and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario
  • Editor-in-Chief of The Gazette, UWO’s daily student newspaper

HIGHLIGHTS

AWARDS

  • Amnesty International Media Awards, 2024 winner, Crisis on the Colorado
  • Journalism in Ageing Prize, 2023 winner, Project forthcoming
  • UC Boulder Water Desk, 2022 grantee, Crisis on the Colorado
  • Earth Journalism Network, 2022 grantee, Surging tides
  • Amnesty International Media Awards, 2021 winner, Toxic legacy
  • IJNR Field Reporting Award, 2021 recipient, Toxic legacy
  • Pulitzer Center, 2021 grantee, Toxic legacy
  • CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism, 2020 finalist, Tainted water
  • RTDNA Network Awards, 2020 winner, Tainted water
  • Drum Online Media Awards, 2020 nominee, Opinion coverage
  • Michener Award, 2019 finalist, Tainted water
  • Canadian Association of Journalists Awards, 2019 winner, Tainted water
  • Atlantic Journalism Awards, 2019 silver winner, Standing still
  • Atlantic Journalism Awards, 2019 gold winner, Tainted water
  • Amnesty International Media Awards, 2019 winner, Nations divided
  • Pulitzer Center, 2019 grantee, Nations divided
  • Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards, 2017 longlist, Broken homes
  • Drum Online Media Awards, 2017 nominee, Broken homes
  • One World Media Awards, 2017 shortlist, Broken homes
  • One World Media Awards, 2015 longlist, 24 hours in Gaza

CONTACT