Greetings, my name is Philip McLachlan and I’m a reporter for The Discourse. I’ll be offering part-time support to the teams in the Cowichan Valley and the West Shore over the next several months, as part of an internship supported by Canada Summer Jobs.
After more than six years working away from home as a journalist I’m thrilled to once again call Vancouver Island my home.
I grew up in Maple Bay and Cobble Hill, and I left home in 2014 to pursue my passion for photojournalism at Loyalist College in Ontario. After graduating I worked abroad as a journalist in Saskatchewan, Alberta at the Lloydminster Meridian Booster, as well as the Kootenays, and the Okanagan at The Fernie Free Press, The Penticton Western News, and The Kelowna Capital News.
Now that I’m back, I’m excited to explore the Island and report on issues that matter, from a fresh perspective.
Something I have learned about each community I have lived in is just how important local journalism is, for a multitude of reasons. It helps people understand, learn, and care about the communities they live in. A professor in school once told me some of the best stories he ever covered were in very small towns. Although I doubted him at the time, after reporting in communities of less than 1,000 people, I can absolutely confirm this is true. Often it is these communities that face the most complex problems. Simultaneously they also often carry stories of resilience, that inspire.
I have always been drawn to stories of utmost sensitivity which affect individuals or small groups of people; issues that most may not realize exist. However I believe good news, not just the bad, has a place in journalism as well, so I never turn down the opportunity to share an uplifting story.
I’m excited to now be working with The Discourse, a group that reports with integrity and cares about the communities it serves.
When I’m not writing you’ll likely find me shooting endless amounts of film, lost somewhere on my gravel bike living off bananas, or watering my 50-plus plant babies. (Yes, most of them have names.)
Do you know a story that I should tell, or do you want to know more about me? Or, perhaps do you just want cycling tips, photography advice, random fun plant facts, or the top five reasons Nikon is better than Canon? Send me an email. I might even tell you the name of my favourite house plant.
Don’t forget to sign up for our Cowichan Valley and West Shore newsletters, if you’re not already, to stay up to date with my work. [end]
