Vjosa Isai

What I Cover

I am a member of the Canada bureau, a small team of journalists who travel the country to cover breaking news and the people, places and topics animating Canadians. Covering a region means being a generalist, though I’m particularly drawn to stories about Canada’s justice system. I am also interested in writing about how public agencies deliver services and regulate them, especially in the health care, education, natural resources, public safety and financial sectors. I contribute once a month to our Saturday newsletter, the Canada Letter. I also support our bureau with specialized research requests, including dealing with Canada’s increasingly opaque public access-to-information systems.

My Background

A few years before joining The Times in 2021, I covered breaking news and crime for The Toronto Star, where I co-reported a series that exposed the inter school transfers of sexually abusive teachers and led to legislative amendments to protect students. I also completed an investigative reporting fellowship at The Globe and Mail, where I covered everything from gun violence and scientific ethics concerns in academia to sexual assault allegations at a prominent Toronto pain clinic. I was born in north Toronto to Albanian immigrants and learned to speak French in public school. I also speak Albanian. I received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Journalistic Ethics

As a journalist at The Times, I am committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I make every effort to be accurate and fair. Before I conduct an interview, I always identify myself as a journalist for The Times and I take a moment to explain the interview process to people who may be speaking to a reporter for the first time. I aim to seek out diverse perspectives.

• Email: vjosa.isai@nytimes.com

• X: @lavjosa

• Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips