Alyse Hand

Communications & Media Relations Specialist | Former Broadcaster | Emcee & host | Nova Scotian (she/her)

[Nova Scotia Gov. @nsgov]

More Retailers Join Nova Scotia Loyal https://t.co/c0C4dHnJLB

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

Join me in supporting the fight against breast cancer by donating to Run for the Cure. Every dollar helps fund life-saving research in Atlantic Canada.

Donate to my page here: https://t.co/SLxio2md2J

Thanks in advance!

[Morgan Manzer @MorganManzer]

I have respect and gratitude for @TimHoustonNS choosing not to turn his back on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community like many other Conservative premiers and leaders. Support for our community is sadly declining so this is important leadership.

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

@crystalcrichard 👎👎👎👎

[robthacker.bsky.social (he/him) @DrRob_Thacker]

That was amazing! Totally worth the trip. From Miramichi NB. #TotalSolarEclipse2024

[Ben Steiner @BenSteiner00]

Good morning folks,

It’s officially official — Project 8 pro women’s soccer is heading to Halifax

The Atlantic Women’s Football Club (AWFC) is building a team in Halifax, joining Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary in the league so far.

https://t.co/tL6wd4BisX

[Tina Comeau @TinaComeaunews]

Forever loved, now forever missed. My son Justin's 7 year battle with addiction. Justin, 21, died on Jan. 25. He never stopped fighting addiction. He never gave up hope. I was so proud. Please remember no family is immune. @SaltWireNews @chronicleherald https://t.co/XMWunNFL6M

[Julia Malott @AlottaMalotta]

Local journalism matters...

I've long feared what Canada will look like when the local newspapers, radio stations, and television broadcasts cease to exist. When local governments are held accountable by nothing beyond their own checks and balances.

A decade ago I learned, working in local government, that our governance systems hold little internal mechansims to ensure public accountability. Yes, we have a rule of law, but the law is only enforced when there is something there to raise the concern.

If someone breaks into my house and the homeowner never calls police, no justice will ever be held. Police don't just 'know' ... someone has to do the work of identifying a grievance and drawing attention to it.

When municipal staff and councillors, or school board trustees, or conservation agencies, or local police forces conduct business outside of what's permitted by statute, there's rarely an internal 'catch mechanism' to get things back on track. We rely on journalists to notice the aberration, and they play a critical role in creating accountability by exposing matters to the public.

Sometimes these revelations are groundbreaking corruption schemes, other times they are simple divergences from normal processes. It's the presence of the media keeping an eye on our institution that acts as the most powerful force to keep both politicians and bureaucrats within the realm of propriety.

When Metroland shuttered local newspapers in late 2023 I was shaken, and today I am again shaken by @BellMediaPR divestment from local journalism and radio.

I'm not a reporter and hold no media credentials. I stumbled into the journalism and media industry entirely by accident, but I've learned so much from industry veterans who have graciously shared their time and walked alongside me to show me what they do and why they've devoted their lives to the mission of public accountability.

I've seen firsthand the devotion and dedication that these individuals invest in their work. Whenever I've been amongst reporters, editors, producers, hair and makeup artists, technical teams, sound engineers, and so many others at @CTVNews, @CBCNews, @nationalpost, @TorontoStar, @globeandmail, @globalnews and so many others, I've been in awe of the hours these individuals put into their work and the standard they hold themselves to in the preparation of their daily work.

Every single day.

When I message a reporter at 7am—they usually answer almost immediately. When I message one at 11pm—they respond almost immediately as well. For all the glamour we attribute to the industry, these individuals do what they do not because we compensate them abundantly, but because they believe in the importance of good journalism, accurate reporting, and informing the public.

Yesterday, @atRachelGilmore shared her CTV salary and it was less than I made immediately after starting my public sector career. For far too long we (as a society) have not compensated good journalism fairly and those in the industry have remained not for the money but because of their passion and devotion to their work. Now, it seems even that is not enough to enable them to keep us informed.

I don't have a solution to this. I recognize that advertising revenue has vacated most non social media advertising channels and the present model is unsustainable. But my observation thus far as been that in the absence, citizens are less informed and less aware of what's happening in our communities around us. That's terrifying—I've been shared far too many inside stories of local government corruption that has never seen the light of day because there's simply no journalists present to close the circle of accountability. I fear it only gets worse from here.

Thank you to all of my friends (and rivals) in the media industry who have given your time and care to keeping Canadians informed so so many years. My heart goes out to those of you who have recently had your livelihoods shaken. I wish I knew where things go from here.

[Canadian Association of Journalists @caj]

We are absolutely dejected to witness the steady stream of excellent journalists losing their jobs today @Bell.

We want to acknowledge the incredible, vital work our colleagues perform every day to keep Canadians informed.

When journalism jobs are lost, it affects us all.

[Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx @CraigBaird]

W5 has been cancelled.

It debuted in 1966 & was the longest-running current affairs/newsmagazine in North America & Canada's third-longest running TV show ever.
Hosts have included Sandie Rinaldo, Lloyd Robertson & Morley Safer.

It inspired other shows, including 60 Minutes.

[Kyle Moore @KyleMooreCB]

Shovelled/plowed 3 times yesterday and this is what it looks like this morning, and more on the way! Never seen anything like this. @CTVAtlantic

[Andy Bowers @evilpez4]

Sign of the times

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

@TheFloatCentre @Halifaxseed Love this. @Halifaxseed such a kind gesture ❤️

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

@allistercanada Thx Allister! 😊

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

Celebrate #NYE with us! Make an end of year impact & tune into the ultimate Nova Scotia new years celebration in benefit of @ShelterNS.
Shelter NS helps 1,500 annually w/ safe beds, nutritious meals, support services, and more. Donations can be made now @ https://t.co/Mckollnj8y

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

What @DaveCarroll said!! 👇
Can’t wait to ring in the new year with you! Free to watch! 😊

[Dave Carroll @DaveCarroll]

What are you doing New Years Eve? Hope you'll join @AlyseHand & myself for a show in support of @ShelterNS. Tune in Live on New Year's Eve at https://t.co/VB0Js26Ema & on YouTube by searching Nova Scotia New Years Eve 2024. Donations can be made now at https://t.co/tRx8csPVNK.

[Alyse Hand @AlyseHand]

A lot of great memories here… especially in recent years with friends, nieces, and other little ones. This place will be sorely missed! @OaklawnFarmZoo, thanks for putting a smile on so many faces!

[Global Halifax @globalhalifax]

Oaklawn Farm Zoo plans to permanently close its doors after more than 40 years of business in Aylesford, N.S. https://t.co/tmweRZW1zj