TORONTO and MONTREAL — CBC/Radio-Canada announced today it is partnering with the Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) to launch new fellowships for Black journalists.
The CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Journalism Fellowship (open to all genders) and the CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Women’s Journalism Fellowship will provide early-career Black journalists with mentoring and training in a CBC News or Radio-Canada Info newsroom. Early-career journalists are defined in the CBC press release as those with one to 10 years of experience.
Over a six-month period, selected fellows will receive mentoring and training in video and audio editing, writing, research and investigative reporting. Each fellow will receive a full-time stipend and write or produce an article or piece that will be considered for publication or broadcast, says the press release.
Applications for both new fellowships will open on January 18, 2021.
“Offering these fellowships for English- and French-speaking Black journalists across the country is another way we ensure that Black Canadians see and hear themselves — their experiences and their perspectives — reflected in our content and in our workforce. This is how we serve Canadians,” said Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, in the release.
“All institutions, including CBC/Radio-Canada, have been called upon to do more to address systematic racism and discrimination internally, and to truly reflect the populations we serve. Time’s up. Let’s get to work. I’m excited to hear the stories the recipients of these fellowships tell us,” added Matt Galloway, host of CBC Radio One’s The Current and CJF board member.
“Who tells the story matters,” said Natalie Turvey, president and executive director of the CJF. “This fellowship program will expand the range of voices and experiences that Canadians watch, hear and read from Canada’s diverse communities. This opportunity highlights the CJF’s support for the development of a generation of Black media leaders and content creators across the industry. These opportunities would not be possible without the generous support of our founding sponsors.”
Founding sponsors for the fellowships are Lululemon (CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Journalism Fellowship) and Aritzia (CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Women’s Journalism Fellowship).
The new fellowships are modelled on the CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships program, which has helped foster the careers of 11 journalists since 2014.
