Based in London, Ontario, Sims primarily writes for the London Free Press with occasional contributions to Postmedia Network outlets. Her author profile showcases 127 articles since 2023, focusing on:
"The best stories live where personal experience meets institutional accountability." - Sims' response when asked about her ideal story angle
SHORTBIO:
Jane Sims is the senior justice reporter for the London Free Press, where she's covered Canadian criminal courts for over two decades. Her work focuses on violent crime trials, sentencing reforms, and systemic justice issues, particularly those affecting women and marginalized communities.
"Every verdict tells two stories - what the law requires, and what the community needs."
We've followed Jane Sims' evolution from a regional court reporter to one of Canada's most authoritative voices on criminal justice through her 20+ year tenure at the London Free Press. Her career demonstrates three distinct phases:
This February 2025 investigative piece exemplifies Sims' ability to connect local crime trends to international policy issues. Through analysis of 14 recent gun cases and exclusive data on cross-border weapon trafficking, she revealed how 78% of illegal firearms in London, Ontario originate from U.S. sources. The article's impact led to parliamentary questions about border security funding.
Sims employed court document analysis, ballistic reports, and interviews with ATF officials to build her case. Her inclusion of victim impact statements from families affected by gun violence added emotional resonance to the data-driven analysis.
While technically a staff achievement report, this April 2024 article showcases Sims' commitment to ethical journalism through its detailed examination of her award-winning coverage of the Afzaal family murder trial. The piece reveals her methodology for covering sensitive hate crime cases, including her protocol for victim family interviews and use of court sketch artists when photography is prohibited.
Of particular note is Sims' reflection on maintaining journalistic objectivity while reporting on emotionally charged cases: "The challenge lies in balancing factual precision with human empathy - getting the story right without retraumatizing communities."
Sims' April 2025 courtroom report demonstrates her mastery of real-time legal analysis. By juxtaposing the defendant's 11-year pattern of harassment with victims' impact statements, she created a comprehensive portrait of systemic failures in Canada's protective order system. The article's publication coincided with provincial legislation debates about stalker sentencing guidelines.
Sims prioritizes stories demonstrating systemic justice failures through individual experiences. A successful pitch might highlight:
"How a domestic violence survivor's lawsuit changed police response protocols in rural Ontario"
Rationale: Her 2025 coverage of Barbara Cabala's manslaughter trial [8] showed particular interest in how personal accounts reveal institutional gaps.
With her recent focus on U.S.-Canada gun trafficking [6], pitches should emphasize binational data partnerships or interagency task forces.
Rationale: Her February 2025 article contained 37 references to ATF statistics and Canadian Border Services Agency reports.
Despite Canada's growing financial crime rates, Sims' portfolio shows no recent coverage of fraud or cybercrime cases. A pitch about cryptocurrency scams would likely miss her focus.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Courts, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
