TORONTO – TV, online and print company Canwest today launched its new Internships for Students with Disabilities, an initiative that marks the company’s ongoing involvement in an industry-wide effort to address the under-representation of persons with disabilities in the media.
"Canwest values inclusiveness and is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve and represent," said David McCauley, senior vice-president of human resources, Canwest Broadcasting, in a press release. "By improving access to training and skills development opportunities for the disability community, the Canwest Internships for Students with Disabilities will encourage better participation of persons with disabilities in the broadcast industry and ensure that our broadcast system accurately reflects the presence and portrayal of all people in Canada."
The annual internships – valued at approximately $10,000 each – will be awarded to five Canadian students with permanent disabilities each year for the next seven years. Recipients in pursuit of a career in broadcasting will receive a challenging opportunity to work in private television with three- or four-month paid internships at one of Canwest’s broadcast properties (Global, E!, or Specialty).
The Canwest Internships for Students with Disabilities are open to Canadian citizens with a permanent disability who are currently enrolled in – or have been accepted to and will be attending full-time studies at – an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution in the field of broadcasting or journalism.
Fully completed application packages and all accompanying documents must be submitted by midnight August 31st 2008. Applications will be reviewed by a cross-Canada panel that includes representation from Canwest and the broadcast industry. For an application form and a complete listing of terms and conditions, please visit www.canwest.com/careers/internship.asp. Any additional internship-related questions may be forwarded to disabilityinternships@canwest.com.
