Author Archives: Robert Basil

New leadership styles in academia

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Robert Basil

My friendly colleague Clarissa has vividly expressed an opinion on these: College administrators go to all sorts of business seminars and workshops on ridiculous things like leadership and all that kind of garbage. Then they come back and put everything … Continue reading →

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“Whatever you think you can write.”

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Robert Basil

So says the wonderful Bryan Garner in today’s LawProse Lesson. Anything that can be thought can be written. That dictum is both challenge and liberation for the legal writer. If a concept can take shape in your mind—even faintly, even clumsily—it can be … Continue reading →

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Communications Strategy

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Robert Basil

I’ve been given a communications strategy “capstone” class for the upcoming term. My students and I will be scanning for examples from around the world starting day one. Expect more frequent posting from me going ahead!

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This will be worth an outing

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Robert Basil

I don’t want to miss this. Unsurprisingly, I could not find any list of distributors, tables, events, etc., anywhere. It will be a surprise! — Addendum:

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Share Yourself

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Robert Basil

On a recent train trip I listened to a young computer whiz give a remarkably agile and lucid explanation to his aunt of AI’s probable future role in his industry. Seated two seats behind him, I was too rapt to … Continue reading →

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“Managing Access”

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Robert Basil

The ways Vancouver’s authorities typically address the city’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood lie on the continuum connecting problematic to harmful. Jamming up the media is commonplace: An inquiry by B.C.’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner has found that news media … Continue reading →

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Journalism “bloodbath”

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Robert Basil

I had a good interview with the Washington Post‘s Sunday magazine a very long time ago. I didn’t get the job, but I learned a ton – and got to walk around that newspaper’s hallowed newsroom a bit. We all … Continue reading →

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More on Sacks

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Robert Basil

Lawrence Weschler wrote And How Are You, Dr. Sacks: A Biographical Memoir of Oliver Sacks. I remember it being a very fine book. I was wondering how Weschler would address the revelations published in Rachel Aviv’s New Yorker piece. I … Continue reading →

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Kristi Coulter

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Robert Basil

The editors at No Contest Communications have long admired Kristi Coulter for her brilliant writing and depthless wit and insight. Read her marvellous new piece in “Business Insider”: “I was an ambitious Amazon exec who solved my burnout without skipping … Continue reading →