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CBC/Radio-Canada partners with Canadian Journalism Foundation to launch new fellowships for Black journalists

Fellowships will provide early-career Black journalists with mentoring and training in a CBC News or Radio-Canada Info newsroom.

 

Monday, September 28, 2020

 

CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) today announced two 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.

 

The fellowships will provide unique opportunities for early-career Black journalists (with one to 10 years’ experience) to be hosted by a CBC News or Radio-Canada Info newsroom.

 

Over a six-month period, 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/piece that will be considered for publication or broadcast. Applications for both new fellowships will open on January 18, 2021.

 

“We’re honoured to be spearheading this initiative with the Canadian Journalism Foundation. 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.”

 

Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada

 

“Who tells the story matters. 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.”

 

Natalie Turvey, President and Executive Director, Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF)

 

“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.

 

Matt Galloway, Host, The Current, CBC Radio One, and CJF Board Member

 

The new fellowships are modelled on the successful CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships program, which has helped foster the careers of 11 journalists since 2014.

 

CBC/Radio-Canada joins the CJF in thanking founding sponsors Lululemon (CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Journalism Fellowship) and Aritzia (CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Women’s Journalism Fellowship) for their generous support.

 

# # #

 

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

 

Media contact:

 

Leon Mar

Director, Media Relations and Issues Management | Corporate Spokesperson

CBC/Radio-Canada

cell. 647-616-5768

leon.mar@cbc.ca

 

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