Sonia Persaud

I'm a freelance journalist based in Kingston and Toronto, Ontario, interested in data-driven approaches and telling stories about health, science, and higher education.

My work has been published in Maisonneuve and This Magazine. I have won awards from the Canadian Association of Journalists and the Canadian University Press recognizing my work in feature writing and data journalism as a student journalist.

I completed my B.Sc. in Neuroscience at Western University. I'm currently a second-year medical student at Queen's University, where I have interests in substance use/addictions medicine and endocrinology.

spersaud@qmed.ca

Writing

Dialled In | Maisonneuve
A feature on campus radio stations, long a hub for marginalized communities, as they fight for relevancy in the digital age.

What 650 syllabi show about Western's ChatGPT response | the Western Gazette
A data-driven feature investigating Western's response to ChatGPT and other generative AI tools.

Bridging the gender gap in Western Engineering | the Western Gazette
Behind the gender gap at Western's Faculty of Engineering, where just 23 per cent of students identify as women.

Awards

John H. McDonald Award for Feature Writing   2025
A national student journalism award from the Canadian University Press for excellence in feature writing.

CAJ-Investintech Data Journalism Scholarship   2024
Awarded by Investintech, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Journalists, for demonstrating potential in journalism work and a foundation of technical data skills.

[Shortlist] John H. McDonald Award for Student Journalist of the Year   2024
Named as one of three students across Canada shortlisted for Student Journalist of the Year, recognizing exemplary work in reporting and editorial capacities.

John H. McDonald Award for Data Journalism   2023
A national student journalism award from the Canadian University Press for excellence in data journalism.