After over eight years of single-handedly running a website featuring investigative news stories, local journalist Sean Holman announced on November 1 that he was suspending daily reporting on publiceyeonline.com.
Public Eye was known for breaking stories and digging deep on issues that were overlooked in news releases, press conferences, and question periods.
Holman’s investigations held BC’s politicians accountable, and often created change in the province.
Now, after 6,000 stories, and 200,000 unique website visitors a year, the time has come to put his website to rest, he says.
“At the end of the day, it was financially not viable,” says Holman.
He says he was able to make some money from advertising and donations, but not enough to continue the site.
“I guess it was just time, more than anything else. I started it up as a public service, and it was the love of my life, until I met the love of my life,” says Holman. “As a publication, I think Public Eye totally punched above its weight on a regular basis, and broke tons of stories. Every single one was a piece of information that hadn’t been reported before.”
Many of Holman’s stories had significant impact, bringing to light situations that otherwise would have remained hidden.
“Sean Holman has a wide view of the lobbying landscape in British Columbia, and has probably done more to keep lobbying in the public eye than any other reporter,” says information and privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham.
Holman investigated criminal activity at legal gaming facilities and exposed the risks associated with the provincial government allowing taller wood-frame buildings. His story on former Liberal campaign co-chair Patrick Kinsella contributed to changes in the province’s lobbying laws.
“I am a passionate believer in the ability of journalism to make a difference in society,” says Holman. “Engaging and informing the public is the best safeguard we have for democracy.”
Public servants and journalists recognize that Holman was a leading investigative journalist in BC.
“I’m very sorry to see him forced to shut down his blog,” says Times Colonist political columnist Les Leyne, who Holman worked with on an investigation of consultant Douglas Walls. “People would look to him as to what was going on around the edges. It was interesting to fill out the whole picture.”
This isn’t the last people will hear from Holman. He’ll continue to teach journalism at UVic, host a talk show at CFAX 1070, and write for the Globe and Mail. He also has plans to film a documentary.
“I’m not going away,” he says.