Some personal news: Welcome to Queen's Park Observer
Introducing your Pink Palace playbook
People like to tell me things. Especially about political drama and public policy, which I’ve honed into a eight-years-and-counting journalism career in the Queen’s Park Press Gallery.
This is Queen’s Park Observer, written by me, Sabrina Nanji. It’s all about the politics, policy and people in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.
Avid Queen’s Park watchers will know me from my staff reporting jobs at other #onpoli newsletters, or from my stints at the Toronto Star and TVO — but now that I’m charting my own path, I’ll be doing things differently.
Covering the provincial legislature, I’ve bumped up against the boundaries of traditional publishing, and I believe there is an appetite for more in-depth coverage. This won’t be your typical bread-and-butter newsletter. I want to do more, and so — with the help of Substack Pro — I’m going all in and making this my full-time gig.
Here’s a taste of what you can expect from my scoop-filled newsletter: deep dives into policymaking, exclusive profiles on the people crafting and vying to change those policies, and good ol’ fashioned shenanigans from political parties. Plus: daily beat coverage of the biggest headlines with expert analysis from this huge #onpoli nerd, as well as what’s going on in the House, including legislative debates, committee proceedings and Question Period. Ditto lobbying, fundraising, regulations and event roundups.
I want to do the sort of writing that sets the North Doors abuzz (that’s the Legislature’s proverbial water cooler). So you can also look forward to insider gossip, Q&As, and fun things like birthday shout-outs.
Think of this as the local newspaper of Queen’s Park. It’s stuff you’ve always needed but never had.
More than anything, I want to connect more with you, dear reader, and I believe this platform will allow us to cultivate a meaningful relationship.
I’ll be putting out free content from time to time — and the newsletter will be totally gratis for a few weeks to start — but I’m introducing it today with the option to become a paying subscriber right away for those who want to support my work. For $56.50 a month, or a discounted $565 a year, you’ll get access to everything Queen’s Park Observer has to offer.
As always, hit me up with your thoughts, suggestions — and tips! — at sabrina@qpobserver.ca. See you in your inbox!