Andrew Potter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 (age 52–53) Teulon, Manitoba, Canada |
| Alma mater | McGill University,University of Toronto,Glebe Collegiate Institute,Trent University,University of Montreal |
| Occupation(s) | Professor, Writer,Journalist |
| Organization | McGill UniversityMaclean's |
| Known for | Journalism |
Andrew Potter is a Canadian author and associate professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy inMontreal,Quebec. He is the former editor-in-chief of theOttawa Citizen; best known for co-authoringThe Rebel Sell withJoseph Heath and for his 2010 bookThe Authenticity Hoax.[1] He was formerly director of theMcGill Institute for the Study of Canada.
Potter was born inTeulon, Manitoba, and attendedGlebe Collegiate Institute inOttawa before graduating fromMcGill University with aBA in Philosophy, followed byMA andPh.D. degrees in philosophy at theUniversity of Toronto. He also spent three years as an assistant professor atTrent University. Potter completed postdoctoral work at the Centre de recherches en éthique (CREUM) at theUniversity of Montreal after graduation.[2]
Potter taught philosophy atTrent University in Peterborough, Ontario, from 2001 to 2004. He then left academia to become the National Editor at theOttawa Citizen, a daily newspaper. In 2010 Potter left theOttawa Citizen, when he was appointed Features Editor atCanadian Business in Toronto. From 2007 to 2012, Potter wrote a column for the Canadian national weekly news magazineMaclean's.[3] He also served as Director of the Montreal-basedMcGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC).[4]
Potter returned to theOttawa Citizen to become Managing Editor in 2011 and was promoted to Editor-In-Chief in December 2013. In 2013, Potter and theOttawa Citizen were awarded theMichener Award for reporting that exposed the use of"robocalls" to mislead and harass voters during the 2011 federal election campaign.
In March 2017, Potter published an article inMaclean's in which he talks about the lack of solidarity within Quebec society.[5] This article was decried and denounced at Quebec's provincial legislature, and the McGill administration tweeted that Potter did not represent the university's views. A few days after his article's publication, Potter distanced himself from elements of it. Soon thereafter, he resigned from his position at MISC, while remaining an associate professor. Distinguished national affairs commentators includingPaul Wells and formerMaclean's national editorAndrew Coyne questioned or condemned the backlash, specifically the perceived yielding to political pressure by an academic institution.[6][7]
Potter's academic background is in metaphysics and political philosophy, post-secondary educational policy, branding, consumerism, and popular culture. He maintains an interest in technology and the future of the news media.[8]
