my.ryerson.ca

School of Journalism

Lisa Taylor

Title:

Instructor

Education:

Master of Laws, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax, 2010. Thesis: THE SILENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM: HOW THE LAW “PROTECTS” SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPLAINANTS FROM THEMSELVES

Bachelor of Laws, Weldon Law School, Dalhousie University, Halifax, 2001.

Office:

RCC141

Telephone:

416-979-5319

Email Address:

lisa.taylor@ryerson.ca

Biography:

Throughout her career, Lisa has focused on the intersection of law and journalism.

She holds a Master of Laws from Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. Her graduate thesis explores the practical operation of the law that protects the identity of sexual assault complainants in the media, and the manner in which that very law curtails the complainant’s own freedom of expression. She advocates greater rule-flexibility and a more robust exercise of personal agency to ensure that sexual assault complainants have the freedom to speak publicly about their own lived experience.

Prior to attending law school, Lisa spent a decade with CBC Radio & Television in a wide range of journalistic roles. After attaining an LLB from Dalhousie Law School, Lisa returned to CBC, ultimately becoming a network justice and legal affairs specialist. She was co-creator and host of two nationally-broadcast series: Sweet Justice, on CBC Radio One, and The Docket on CBC Newsworld (now CBC News Network).

Her work on The Docket garnered a 2004 Gemini nomination. Her journalism has also been recognized by the Atlantic Journalism Awards and the B’nai Brith Media Human Rights Awards. While attending law school, Lisa co-produced the independent documentary Cass, which won the “Best Documentary - Short Subject” and “Best of Festival” awards at the 2000 Yorkton Short Film Festival.

Lisa left the CBC in 2005 to practise law, and to teach. She has previously lectured at King’s College School of Journalism and Mount Saint Vincent University, both in Halifax.

Currently, in addition to teaching at Ryerson, Lisa leads a two-day writing and storytelling workshops for CBC journalists. Over the past two years, Lisa and her training partner have taught hundreds of working journalists at CBC locations from Vancouver to St. John’s.

Lisa is a member of the Canadian Centre on Court Technology’s Social Media & the Courts working group, as well as the Canadian Media Lawyers’ Association. She is a former member of the national board of directors of LEAF (the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund).

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Lisa serves as the journalism school’s undergraduate core skills coordinator, and sits on the journalism school’s curriculum committee.