Paul Samyn Editor

Paul Samyn is the editor of the Free Press, a role which has him responsible for all this newsroom produces on all platforms.

Scott Gibbons Associate Editor Enterprise

Scott oversees long features, investigations and special projects.

Stacey Thidrickson Associate editor, news

Stacey Thidrickson got a taste for journalism as a teenager when she got her first byline in the Selkirk Journal — the same newspaper that helped launch her career more than 20 years ago.

Erin Lebar Manager of audience engagement for news (currently on leave)

Erin Lebar spends her time thinking of, and implementing, ways to improve the interaction and connection between the Free Press newsroom and its readership.

Wendy Sawatzky Associate Editor Digital News

Wendy oversees the team that publishes news on the Free Press’s websites and apps.

Aaron Epp Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press.

Gabrielle Piché Reporter

Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and learning. She graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in the spring of 2020.

Martin Cash Reporter

Martin Cash has been writing a column and business news at the Free Press since 1989. Over those years he’s written through a number of business cycles and the rise and fall (and rise) in fortunes of many local businesses.

Carol Sanders Legislature reporter

In 1997, Carol started at the Free Press working nights as a copy editor. In 2000, she jumped at a chance to return to reporting. In early 2020 — before a global pandemic was declared — she agreed to pitch in, temporarily, at the Free Press legislature bureau. She’s been there ever since.

Chris Kitching Reporter

As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

Dean Pritchard Courts reporter

Someone once said a journalist is just a reporter in a good suit. Dean Pritchard doesn’t own a good suit. But he knows a good lawsuit.

Erik Pindera Reporter

Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice.

Joyanne Pursaga Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics is involved. Joyanne became the city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.

Julia-Simone Rutgers Reporter

Julia-Simone Rutgers is a climate reporter with a focus on environmental issues in Manitoba. Her position is part of a three-year partnership between the Winnipeg Free Press and The Narwhal, funded by the Winnipeg Foundation.

Katie May Reporter

Katie May is a general-assignment reporter for the Free Press.

Katrina Clarke Investigative reporter

Katrina Clarke is an investigative reporter with the Winnipeg Free Press.

Kevin Rollason Reporter

Whether it is covering city hall, the law courts, or general reporting, Kevin can be counted on to not only answer the 5 Ws — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but to do it in an interesting and accessible way for readers.

Maggie Macintosh Education reporter

Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Winnipeg Free Press. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.

Malak Abas Reporter

Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020.

Marsha McLeod Investigative reporter

Marsha is an investigative reporter. She joined the Free Press in 2023.

Melissa Martin Reporter-at-large (currently on leave)

Melissa Martin reports and opines for the Winnipeg Free Press.

Nicole Buffie Multimedia producer

Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk.

Tyler Searle Reporter

Since joining the paper in 2022, Tyler has found himself driving through blizzards, documenting protests and scouring the undersides of bridges for potential stories.

Russell Wangersky Perspectives editor

Russell Wangersky is an editor, columnist and author who has worked at newspapers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan before settling in the geographic middle of the country.

Dan Lett Columnist

Born and raised in and around Toronto, Dan Lett came to Winnipeg in 1986, less than a year out of journalism school with a lifelong dream to be a newspaper reporter.

Darren Ridgley Senior copy editor

Darren Ridgley is a copy editor and member of the adjunct editorial board at the Free Press.

Jen Zoratti Columnist

Jen Zoratti is a Winnipeg Free Press columnist and feature writer, working in the Arts & Life department. 

Niigaan Sinclair Columnist

Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe and is a columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press.

Tom Brodbeck Columnist

Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media.

Jill Wilson Arts & Life editor

Jill Wilson started working at the Free Press in 2003 as a copy editor for the entertainment section.

AV Kitching Reporter

AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press.

Ben Sigurdson Literary editor, drinks writer

Ben Sigurdson edits the Free Press books section, and also writes about wine, beer and spirits.

Ben Waldman Reporter

Ben Waldman is a National Newspaper Award-nominated reporter on the Arts & Life desk at the Free Press.

Eva Wasney Reporter

Eva Wasney is an award-winning journalist who approaches every story with curiosity and care.

Maureen Scurfield Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

Mike Aporius Director of Photography/Multimedia

Mike Aporius directs the Winnipeg Free Press' team of photojournalists.

John Woods Photojournalist

Mikaela MacKenzie Photojournalist

Mikaela MacKenzie loves meeting people, experiencing new things, and learning something every day. That's what drove her to pursue a career as a visual journalist — photographers get a hands-on, boots-on-the-ground look at the world.

Mike Deal Photojournalist

Mike Deal started freelancing for the Winnipeg Free Press in 1997. Three years later, he landed a part-time job as a night photo desk editor.

Ruth Bonneville Photojournalist

As the first female photographer hired by the Winnipeg Free Press, Ruth has been an inspiration and a mentor to other women in the male-dominated field of photojournalism for over two decades.

Jason Bell Sports editor

Jason Bell wanted to be a lawyer when he was a kid. The movie The Paper Chase got him hooked on the idea of law school and, possibly, falling in love with someone exactly like Lindsay Wagner (before she went all bionic).

Jeff Hamilton Multimedia producer

After a slew of injuries playing hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in both knees; as well as a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good idea to take his interest in sports off the ice and in to the classroom.

Joshua Frey-Sam Reporter

Josh joined the Free Press sports squad just weeks after graduating from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in 2022.

Ken Wiebe Sports reporter

Raised in the booming metropolis of Altona, Man., Ken Wiebe grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but after realizing his hands were more adept at typing than scoring, he shifted his attention to cover his favourite sport as a writer.

Mike McIntyre Sports reporter

Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.

Mike Sawatzky Reporter

Mike has been working on the Free Press sports desk since 2003.

Taylor Allen Reporter

Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of...

Colleen Zacharias Gardening columnist

Colleen Zacharias writes about many aspects of gardening including trends, plant recommendations, and how-to information that is uniquely relevant to Prairie gardeners.

Willy Williamson Travel/Homes/Autos Editor

Paul “Willy” Williamson joined the Free Press editorial team in 2007, turning his back on a career as a corrections officer. His motor has been running non-stop ever since.

Kelly Taylor Copy Editor, Autos Reporter

Kelly Taylor is a Winnipeg Free Press copy editor and award-winning automotive journalist; he also writes the Business Weekly newsletter.

Kittie Wong Page designer

Kittie Wong wears three different hats for the Winnipeg Free Press editorial department: page designer, picture editor and web editor.

Nadya Pankiw Multimedia producer

Nadya works as a multimedia producer at the Free Press, curating the publication’s digital presence, creating posts for social media and crafting strategy to foster media literacy among youth.