About Marlin’s Journal

Our Story

Marlin’s Journal was founded in early 2024 by a small group of journalists and technologists who believed that the internet deserved better than clickbait and hot takes. Based in Toronto, Canada, we set out to build an independent publication that treats readers like adults — one that does the hard work of research, verification, and thoughtful analysis before hitting publish.

Our name comes from the marlin — a fish known for its speed, precision, and ability to cut through currents. That’s what we aim to do: move quickly through the noise and go deep where it matters.

We’re not backed by venture capital, we don’t have a paywall, and we don’t run intrusive advertising. Our revenue comes from reader support, select sponsorships that we clearly label, and syndication partnerships. That independence means we answer to you, not to shareholders or algorithms.

What We Cover

Marlin’s Journal sits at the intersection of technology, science, and culture. We cover the stories that shape how we live, work, and think — from semiconductor manufacturing and AI policy to the economics of streaming music and the psychology of digital life.

Our six core coverage areas are:

Technology — Hardware, software, infrastructure, and the systems that power the modern world
Science — Breakthroughs in physics, biology, climate, and medicine
Culture — How technology reshapes art, media, relationships, and identity
Business — The economics of innovation, from indie SaaS to global supply chains
AI & Future — Artificial intelligence, automation, and what comes next
Environment — Climate tech, energy transition, and sustainability

We don’t chase every news cycle. Instead, we publish 3-5 in-depth pieces per week — articles that are built to last, not optimized for a 24-hour shelf life.

Our Editorial Team

Sarah Chen, Editor-in-Chief — Sarah spent twelve years at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star before founding Marlin’s Journal. She holds a Master’s in Journalism from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo. Her reporting on technology policy has been cited in Canadian parliamentary hearings.

Marcus Okafor, Managing Editor — Marcus came to us from Quartz, where he edited the technology and innovation desk. He previously worked at the BBC World Service in London and holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto. Marcus oversees our editorial calendar and fact-checking operations.

Dr. Priya Nair, Science Editor — Priya holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology from McGill University and spent a decade in cancer research before moving into science journalism. Her work has appeared in Nature, The Atlantic, and Wired. She ensures that every science story we publish is accurate down to the methodology section.

James MacLellan, Senior Technology Reporter — James covers semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and the business of technology. He previously wrote for Ars Technica and AnandTech and has been building his own computers since he was fourteen.

Lena Tremblay, Culture Editor — Lena writes about the intersection of technology and everyday life. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of British Columbia and her essays have been anthologized in the Best Canadian Essays series.

Amina Yusuf, Business & Economics Reporter — Amina covers startups, venture capital, and the creator economy. She spent five years at the Financial Times before returning to her hometown of Toronto to join our team.

In addition to our core staff, we work with a network of freelance contributors across Canada and around the world. Every byline on our site represents a real person with real expertise — we never use AI to generate articles, and we never publish under pseudonyms without explicit disclosure.

Our Values

Accuracy above speed. We’d rather be second and right than first and wrong. Every article goes through at least two rounds of editing and one dedicated fact-check before publication.

Clarity over jargon. We write for intelligent, curious readers — not for specialists. If a concept can’t be explained in plain language, we haven’t understood it well enough ourselves.

Independence from influence. We don’t accept payment for coverage, we don’t let advertisers shape our editorial decisions, and we disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Our editorial team operates completely separately from our business operations.

Correction, not concealment. When we get something wrong, we fix it — prominently and promptly. Every correction is noted at the bottom of the article with the date and nature of the change.

Canadian perspective, global scope. While we’re proud to be based in Toronto and to report on Canadian technology and science, our coverage is international in scope. The stories that matter don’t respect borders.

Our Fact-Checking Process

Every article published on Marlin’s Journal goes through a structured verification process:

Reporter verification — The writer is responsible for primary source verification: checking statistics against original studies, confirming quotes with interview subjects, and linking to source material wherever possible.
Editorial review — The section editor reads for accuracy, clarity, and completeness. Claims that seem surprising are flagged for additional verification.
Dedicated fact-check — Our fact-checker independently verifies a random sample of factual claims in each piece, cross-referencing against primary sources. For science and technology stories, this includes checking methodology and sample sizes of cited studies.
Final sign-off — The Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor gives final approval before publication.