"Goldfish are problematic as invasive species because they can thrive in very harsh conditions, live a long time, and wreak havoc on the environment when released into the wild. There has been recent news coverage of large goldfish being caught in the wild, so we wanted to provide some additional context.
In this story, we combined research on invasive species and colourful imagery with a frank explanation of what happens when goldfish make their way into the wild. The writer, Don Campbell, reached out to Professor Nick Mandrak, an expert on invasive species at U of T Scarborough, to talk about his lab’s work on goldfish as invasive species. We wanted to paint a picture of what happens when our pet goldfish are released into the wild, but also knew it was essential to get photos of these fish in the wild.
“Our Growing Goldfish Problem” was well received by our audiences. The story earned 6,678 page views in the first month and was the second most read story of the year. When we shared the story on our social channels, it earned over 10,000 organic impressions and over 200 engagements across Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn."
From the Judges
A great story told very clearly and with interesting details to keep you hooked (excuse the pun!). Also great to see the reach it achieved and the goals they set. Great story idea and very relatable to anyone who has ever had a goldfish. Impressive impressions and social clicks.
