Tad Simons is an award-winning journalist and author who has received top honors from the Society for Professional Journalists, American Society of Business Press Editors, Folio, City Regional Magazine Association, Minnesota Magazine Publishers Association, and several other professional organizations. Additionally, he has won a Regional Emmy Award for his online coverage of arts and culture, and now writes for the Thomson Reuters Institute about technology, artificial intelligence, international politics, global trade, climate science, and various other social and legal issues facing the nation and world. 

Work Samples:

Is it too Late to Agree on a Global Standard for E-commerce?: Part 2 of two-art series on the future of e-commerce regulation. (Thomson Reuters, Feb. 2024)

The Race to Regulate E-commerce is Just Beginning: Part 1 of two-part series on the future of e-commerce regulation

Are Multinational Companies Ready for the Pillar Two Tax Regime?: Overview of the challenges and costs of a 15% minimum global tax. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Nov. 2023)

ESG Effectiveness is Increasingly Dependent on Global Trade Professionals: An in-depth look at how ESG compliance has become a major responsibility for supply-chain professionals. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Nov. 2023)

A Brighter Future for Fintechs in 2024?: An optimistic look at how fintechs might regain some traction in 2024. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Oct. 2023)

Thomson Reuters Risk & Compliance Report: In-depth original research report on corporate risk and compliance. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Oct. 2023)

Check Theft and Fraud Are on the Rise: What Financial Institutions Can Do About It: Investigation of how financial institutions can protect consumers from check washing and fraud.

Creating Forvis: An Interview with Forvis CEO Tom Watson (not the golfer): on strategies his team used to merge successfully with BKD to instantly create a Top 10 accounting firm.

How Multinationals Can Save on the Growing Costs and Complexity of Compliance: Examination of how companies can save on compliance for new e-invoicing standards. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Apr. 2023)

Thomson Reuters 2023 Corporate Tax Report: Original research report on challenges facing corporate tax departments.

Fighting Crimes in the Metaverse: Report from ACAMS on the challenges of fighting crimes (e.g., drug, gun, and human trafficking) in the metaverse. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Dec. 2022)

Crypto Scams Targeting Seniors Are on the Rise: Examination of how crypto fraudsters are targeting seniors, and what can be done about it. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Oct. 2022)

Why the Crypto Economy Needs More Anti-Fraud Protocols and Other Regulations: Examination of the failures of the crypto economy and how to legitimize it. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Oct. 2022)

Thomson Reuters 2022 Global Trade Report: Original research report on global trade technology adoption and attitudes—first ever from Thomson Reuters. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Sept. 2022)

2022 Government Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Report: Original research report on government fraud during the pandemic. (Thomson Reuters Institute, June 2022)

How is the War in Ukraine Affecting Global Supply Chains?: A first glimpse at how the Russia/Ukraine conflict is/was affecting global supply chains. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Apr. 2022)

The Challenges of Covering the War in Ukraine: Analysis of the challenges facing Reuters reporters trying to cover the Russia/Ukraine conflict. (Thomson Reuters Institute, Mar. 2022)

Breakingviews Predictions 2022: San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly on how rising interest rates are likely to impact economic growth.

Breakingview Predictions 2022: Unicredit CEO Andrea Orcel on his plans for revitalizing one of Europe’s largest banks.

Breakingviews Predictions 2022: Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman on the need to re-balance market dynamics after two years of disruption.

Ending Online Exploitation and Abuse: Discussion of practical ways to address the ongoing problem of online exploitation and abuse of women and children.

2021 Thomson Reuters Trust Conference: Discussion of the challenges involved in reaching such lofty corporate goals a net-zero emissions and implementation of ESG principles.

AML Compliance and the Corporate Transparency Act: Explanation of the CTA’s impact on AML/BSA financial compliance.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Woos US Investors: Story on Sanchez’s most recent attempt to assert himself as a top European leader.

IAC Chair Barry Diller on New York’s Little Island: Interview with IAC chair Barry Diller on his latest city development project, New York’s Little Island.

What Will Europe and UK Look Like Post-Brexit?: Reuters editors discuss the future of Europe and the UK after Brexit.

UN Urges Action on Climate Change: Interview with the UN’s Achim Steiner, administrator of the United Nations Development Program, on the need for international action on climate change. (Apr., 2021, Thomson Reuters)

The Evolving Covid-19 Pandemic: Interview with University of Minnesota infectious-disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm on the ongoing fiasco that is our nation’s response to Covid-19. (Nov. 2020, Thomson Reuters)

The Climate Science Christian: Interview with climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe on finding hope when science has nothing but bad news to offer. (Oct. 2020, Thomson Reuters)

Al Gore Wants to Save the World: Interview with Al Gore on global efforts to curb carbon emissions and save our little speck of stardust from the ravages of climate change. (Sept. 2020, Thomson Reuters)

Please, Someone Save the NYC Transit System: Interview with Patrick Foye, head of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, on the “five-alarm fire” facing New York City’s transit system because of Covid-19. (Sept. 2020, Thomson Reuters)

Using AI to Identify Fake News: On efforts at the University of Zurich to use artificial intelligence to identify bias and fakery in news coverage. (Oct. 2020, Thomson Reuters)

Deal-making in the Post-Pandemic Era: How M&A activity and IPOs will be impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. (May 2020, Thomson Reuters)

Don’t Count on a Vaccine: Interview with infectious-disease expert Dr. William Haseltine on the harsh realities of the Covid-19 challenge. (May 2020, Thomson Reuters)

In the Fight Against Opioids, is America its Own Worst Enemy?: More than twenty percent of the U.S. population is in chronic pain. Why? (Aug. 2019, Thomson Reuters)

Why Civil Court’s Larger Problems Can’t Be Simplified Away: Civil courts are overwhelmed because Congress and the higher courts aren’t doing their jobs. (July, 2019, Thomson Reuters)

Protecting the Protectors: 2019 Northern Lights award-winning story on the importance of safeguarding the mental health of first responders. (MN Cities magazine, Mar.-Apr. 2019)

Managing the Unmanageable: The Story of a Small City's Creative Problem-Solving (Minnesota Cities magazine, Mar.-Apr., 2018): How the city of Avon overcame a wastewater plant it didn't need. 

The Courage to Create: A retrospective for Chicago’s Roosevelt University’s 150th Anniversary celebration.

A New Era in the Old War Between Teams and Ticket Scalpers: (Twin Cities Business, Feb., 2017): In-depth report on the evolution of the secondary ticket market (scalping) in Minnesota as teams and venues replace paper tickets with e-tickets and apps. 

Nordeast Nest With Energy to Spare (Midwest Home, Sept/Oct. 2016): Article on the most energy-efficient home in Minnesota, a house in Nordeast Minneapolis built using German "passive-house" construction techniques.

A Princely Sum (Twin Cities Business, July 2016): In-depth report on the fiasco surrounding rock-star Prince's heirs and estate.

Remembrance of Guthries Past (Mpls/St.Paul, Dec. 2015): Analysis of Guthrie artistic director Joseph Haj's directorial debut.

Dancing Outside the Shadows of the Law (SuperLawyers, August, 2015): Profile of Minneapolis lawyer Jan Conlin.

Master Class (Mpls/St.Paul magazine, January, 2015): In-depth profile of legendary Minnesota actress Sally Wingert.

Blue Note (Twin Cities Business, Sept., 2014): Making money as a musician has never been easy, and it still isn't.

The Cherry on Top (Mpls/St.Paul magazine, August, 2013): How Claes Oldenburg's SpoonBridge and Cherry became one of the most iconic sculptures in the world.

The Telltale Hearts (Mpls/St.Paul magazine, June 2013): How New Ulm, the butter city, is trying to completely eliminate heart attacks.

Counting Crows . . . and every other bird species in Minnesota: An inside look at how the Audubon Society goes about counting all the breeding birds in Minnesota. 

Does PowerPoint Make You Stupid?: Essay refuting Edward Tufte's infamous article, "The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint," in which he claims that a PowerPoint slide could have led to the Columbia shuttle disaster. (Presentations.com)

Read more of my arts and culture writing for Mpls/St.Paul magazine.