Michael Petrou, editor of Open Canada

Open Canada was launched by the Canadian International Council in 2011, with a mandate to create a platform that welcomes diverse viewpoints and seeks out new voices to broaden the conversation about foreign affairs.

“I think the best journalism is akin to a public square, a coffee house or a pub,” said Petrou. “It’s a place where people who may not normally interact can come together and discuss new ideas,” said Petrou.

Petrou has worked for the Ottawa Citizen, reported from Afghanistan, and worked as a foreign correspondent for Maclean’s, reporting from the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. He has received three National Magazine Awards. He has been teaching at Carleton since 2017.