Stewart Bell is Global News' national security correspondent and senior investigative reporter based in Toronto. With 20+ years experience, he specializes in:
Recent accolades include the 2024 Michener Award for exposing terrorist financing through Canadian charities. Avoid pitches on cybercrime or domestic extremism without international connections.
SHORTBIO:
Stewart Bell stands as Canada's foremost investigative journalist on national security matters, currently serving as Senior National Security Reporter for Global News. With unparalleled access to intelligence sources and legal documents, his work bridges international conflicts and domestic policy impacts.
Recent milestone: 2024 Michener Award winner for exposing terrorist financing through Canadian non-profits. Avoid speculative pitches without verified sources or documents.
We've followed Stewart Bell's two-decade career as he evolved from general assignment reporting to becoming Canada's preeminent investigative journalist specializing in national security and terrorism. His work at Global News demonstrates three distinct phases:
"The threat of terrorism has rarely been higher - but neither has our ability to understand it through rigorous journalism." - Stewart Bell in 2025 CSIS symposium keynote
Bell's 18-month investigation into domestic extremism revealed how Canadian ISIS returnees orchestrated a foiled attack plot against Jewish institutions. Through court documents and intercepted communications, he demonstrated the operational links between online radicalization and real-world violence. This work prompted parliamentary hearings on counter-radicalization programs.
This exclusive tracked how a senior Iranian official used Canada's immigration system to avoid deportation. Bell obtained internal CBSA documents showing how the individual leveraged political connections and exploited legal loopholes. The story led to reforms in how Canada handles foreign regime affiliates.
Bell's financial forensics revealed how Indian diaspora groups with ties to Prime Minister Modi helped fund a major Canadian leadership campaign. By cross-referencing election filings with foreign corporate registries, he exposed transnational political influence networks.
Bell prioritizes stories with verified documents from intelligence sources. Successful pitches should connect local incidents to global networks - for example, how a drug seizure relates to transnational cartels. Avoid speculative terrorism claims without law enforcement validation.
He examines how foreign conflicts manifest in Canadian ethnic communities. Effective angles include: financial flows to conflict zones, political lobbying efforts, or inter-community tensions. Provide access to community leaders rather than activists.
Bell frequently exposes how bad actors manipulate Canada's legal/immigration systems. Compelling pitches might involve: abuse of refugee claims by foreign agents, sanctions evasion through corporate structures, or extradition loopholes. Always include documentary evidence.
Won for exposing how Canadian charities funded international terrorist groups. This marked the first time security reporting received Canada's highest journalism honor in a decade.
Recognized his 3-year investigation into ISIS returnees, which combined battlefield evidence with forensic documentation of war crimes.
Awarded for documentary series on Yazidi genocide survivors in Canada, praised for balancing human stories with policy analysis.
Global News' Stewart Bell covers the conviction of a Toronto man who threatened to bomb every synagogue in the city and “kill as many Jews
Latest accused Iran official caught in Canada sues immigration department
The Modi 'friends' who helped finance Poilievre's leadership campaign
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