LUCAS-MATTHEW MARSH

Independent Journalist

Howdy there, partner.

Why don't you mosey on down and join me next to this metaphorical campfire while I tell you the story of how I became a journalist? It's a long story, full of twists, turns, and the occasional misstep.

But don't you worry—I promise to keep things interesting...

It all began in a simpler time, in the far-off year of 2020.

The world was in lockdown, Tiger King was topping the Netflix charts, and my brother was discovering a new passion for baking cinnamon buns.

Meanwhile, as an English Literature student at Concordia University, I was left to ponder the age-old question with all this extra time: "What on earth do I want to do with my life?"

You see, something wasn’t clicking with me and English Lit. I loved to write, I loved to read, but being stuck inside all day, drowning in monotony and dingy old books, filled me with despair. I also loved photography and knew there had to be something out there that let me do both.

I thought: If only there were was a job where I could go outside, talk to people, take photos, and then—only then—be stuck inside writing about it?

Then it clicked: journalism.

That’s when I remembered a photojournalist I had met back in high school. I wondered if maybe he could help me with it. So, I did what any rational person would do: I sent him an email, asking if journalism was worth pursuing.

When I got his email a few days later… Let me tell you, his advice was... well, let’s call it "cautionary." He warned me not to get into journalism. Budget cuts, public scrutiny, relentless attacks on the free press—it was all doom and gloom.

So I did what any future journalist worth their salt would have done—I completely ignored all his advice and dived headfirst into this journey...

You might be wondering, "What happens next?" Well, partner, a lot of incredible things:

I transferred into Concordia’s journalism department, worked my way up through the ranks at student media, went on assignment in Greece, attended the Thessaloniki International Summer Media Academy, mentored the next generation of journalists out in Kahnawake, graduated from Concordia University, wrote and sent off my very first professional pitch to Al Jazeera English -and had it accepted no less- and joined the Journalist Recovery Network.

But like I said, this is a long story, one that I can't fit into a single sitting. And in this first-person narrative storytelling technique that I’m using to make this biography section slightly more interesting for you to read, we got a long day's journey ahead of us tomorrow, partner.

But don't you worry, I’ll come back to update this every time I get the chance.

So keep checking in, because the story’s about to get really good. And huckleberry, if you want to add a chapter to this journey—maybe with a tip, a lead, or even a job offer—I’m always open to a good conversation.

Shoot me an email. Let’s talk.

Until next time.