Elissa Mendes
Elissa Mendes is an Ottawa-based journalist reporting on social issues and business. She is in her final year of journalism and health science at Carleton University, and she is the editor-in-chief of the Charlatan, Carleton's independent student newspaper. There, her in-depth reporting on hazing in a Carleton sorority spurred new campus legislation and won a Canadian University Press investigative award.
Elissa was previously a staff reporter at the Toronto Star covering breaking news. Her work has also appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.
Why did you become a journalist?
Quality reporting holds powerful institutions to account and helps us make sense of the world around us. But beyond that, excellent journalism stands to captivate and delight an audience. I tend to become immersed in in-depth stories that offer a slice of life or show readers what makes a person tick.
Years in Journalism
Education
Honours Bachelor of Journalism with a Concentration in Health Sciences, Carleton University
Honours & Awards
Investigative Reporting Award, Canadian University Press, 2024