CBC producer becomes Laurentian's new chief of staff

Award-winning bilingual journalist Alex Freedman has been appointed chief of staff to the president at Laurentian University, effective Aug. 31, 2015.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Freedman to Laurentian in this critical role,” said LU president Dominic Giroux, in a press release.

“In this capacity, he will lead the University’s Communications and Marketing Departments and the President’s Office, champion university-wide efforts to achieve greater national recognition and effective internal communications, support the President with community engagement, work closely with members of the Executive Team as a resource to advance institutional priorities, and represent the University for example as spokesperson with the media or as a member of the board of directors of the Northern Policy Institute.”

Freedman is an award-winning bilingual journalist who as senior producer has been managing the CBC’s Quebec City bureau since 2013, leading a team of 12 people.

He worked as television reporter then as investigative journalist in Winnipeg from 2005 to 2013, producing and reporting for CBC radio and television programs including World Report and The National with Peter Mansbridge.

From 2000 to 2005, he was a reporter for CBC Radio News and Newsworld Business News in Montreal. He completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Journalism and a minor in Political Science at Concordia University.

Through his undergraduate studies, he was station manager for CJLO Radio Concordia, did promotions and production for CHOM 97.7 FM, and was reporter and assignment editor for 940 AM News.

He has volunteered in the community for the environment and the arts, including as Board Chair of Theatre Projects Manitoba.

“It is exciting to come to Greater Sudbury to join such an outstanding team,” said Freedman, in a press release.

“Laurentian University is on the move on the national stage and I look forward to contributing to that momentum.

As the son of a professor emeritus of anthropology and of a former administrator of continuing education at Western, I have been exposed since a very young age to the transformative role played by universities in our society. I look forward to reconnecting with the academy and playing a small part towards its inspiring purpose.”