Journalism News and Jobs: Canada
John Carson
A seasoned professional in journalism, communications, editorial, digital content and social media strategy. Currently specializing in legal content, news, editorial, copywriting and project management.
October 31, 2024 (Issue 19)
Welcome to Journalism News and Jobs: Canada.
Every Thursday I'll curate interesting news items about Canadian journalism with a quick summary and link to read the full story.
I'll also add some hand-picked Canadian journalism jobs with links to the media outlet or organization and (where possible) a contact name and/or e-mail, so you can apply to a real person.
Feedback and news/jobs tips welcome!
John Carson / johncarson AT gmail DOT COM
Unifor donates $15,000 to support CJFE efforts to protect media workers and journalism
Unifor, in partnership with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), hosted the 2024 "A Night to Celebrate Courage in Journalism" gala in Toronto, honoring the bravery of journalists worldwide and raising funds for CJFE’s initiatives. The event highlighted escalating threats to journalists, observing a moment of silence for the 142 media workers lost in the past year, most in Gaza. Notable figures like Unifor’s Lana Payne spoke out against the harmful impact of right-wing attacks on media credibility. Honorees included Luke LeBrun of PressProgress and International Press Freedom Award recipients Rana Ayyub and Samar Abu Elouf, who shared their harrowing experiences of persecution. Unifor contributed $15,000 to support CJFE’s advocacy and aid initiatives, underscoring its commitment to defending press freedom and supporting journalists facing repression.
Revolving Door
Maxime Bertrand will begin a five-year term as CBC Ombudsman on Nov. 18, following Jack Nagler, bringing over 30 years of experience as a bilingual journalist and current Director of Community Relations for Radio-Canada. Meg Roberts has joined Mike Kakuk as co-host of Mornings with Mike and Meg on AM800 CKLW Windsor-Essex, replacing Lisa Williams. Olympic curling champion Jennifer Jones joins Sportsnet’s Grand Slam of Curling broadcast team full-time, succeeding Joan McCusker. Karyn Pugliese has exited her role as Editor-in-Chief at Canadaland, while Sheldon Spackman has been promoted to Alberta News Director at Pattison Media. Samantha Edwards is now the Globe and Mail’s online culture reporter, a new role focusing on the intersection of digital culture and society.
Supporting B.C. journalism helps provide a core pillar in defence of democracy
The recent B.C. provincial election showcased the power and necessity of local journalism as communities received in-depth, real-time coverage of one of the province's closest races. Yet, behind this journalistic achievement lies a troubling decline, with significant job losses and newsroom closures leaving many communities without local news. This erosion of journalism limits scrutiny of local governments, compromises coverage of critical issues like climate change, and diminishes newsroom diversity and institutional knowledge, leading to public distrust in media. Organizations like the Jack Webster Foundation work to counter these effects by providing financial and educational support to journalists, recognizing quality reporting, and funding in-depth journalism projects. With misinformation on the rise, supporting professional journalism is essential for sustaining democracy and fostering informed public discourse.
Media grads scoring big league jobs thanks to experience covering varsity sports
TMU’s Career Boost program, in partnership with Athletics, offers sports media students valuable, hands-on experience covering varsity sports like volleyball, basketball, hockey, and soccer, preparing them for careers in sports media. Students take on various roles, from play-by-play commentary to creating engaging social media content and interviewing athletes, gaining real-world skills essential for the industry. Alumni who participated in this program have secured positions at major outlets, including TSN, MLSE, CBC Sports, and Sportsnet. Louise Cowin, TMU’s executive director of Athletics and Recreation, praised the students' professional growth and the high-quality coverage they produce. One such success story is Hania Elakawy, now a producer at MLSE, highlighted in a new three-part series on TMU graduates in sports media.
Do you trust the news? Here’s how to figure that out
Trust in news has declined significantly among Canadian youth, with only 12.5% of people aged 15 to 24 expressing high trust in media, down from 34% in 2013. Experts like George Achi from CBC and Julie Mastrine from AllSides attribute this trend to factors like misinformation, which has proliferated with social media and AI, and media bias, which can slant stories toward particular viewpoints. CBC enforces journalistic standards like fact-checking, using multiple sources, and transparency to build trust. Achi suggests using a mix of reliable sources alongside cautious consumption of non-traditional platforms. Media literacy advocates recommend critical thinking and asking questions about sources’ credibility, transparency, and motives to assess news reliability.
SABEW Canada: Mastering the Beat
Join an engaging panel on beat reporting with business journalists Murad Hemmadi (The Logic), Susan Krashinsky Robertson (The Globe and Mail), and Layan Odeh (Bloomberg) on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Moderated by Canadian Press reporter Rosa Saba, the event includes a Toronto Stock Exchange market close, followed by a networking cocktail hour and a discussion on developing sources, keeping beats fresh, and producing award-winning stories. The event will be held at the TMX Market Centre in Toronto, with check-in at 3:30 p.m., and the panel beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 USD.
CRTC approves Google’s application and paves way for annual $100 million contribution to Canadian news organizations
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has made its first decision under the Online News Act, allowing Google to contribute $100 million annually to Canadian news organizations through the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC). The Online News Act, passed in June 2023, mandates that online platforms fairly compensate Canadian news organizations for content. The CRTC's ruling grants Google a five-year exemption from negotiating with individual news outlets, provided it contributes to the CJC, which will then distribute the funds to eligible organizations. Google has 60 days to make its first payment, and the CJC will report to the CRTC annually on fund distribution.
CBC News summer scholarship for emerging journalists
CBC’s 2025 News Summer Scholarship, in memory of Joan Donaldson and Peter Gzowski, is a four-month, hands-on program for emerging journalists, combining former programs into one comprehensive experience. Scholars will spend May and June in CBC's Toronto Broadcast Centre, and July and August in regional newsrooms across Canada, gaining experience in multiplatform news environments, including digital, audio, video, and social. Candidates must be final-year post-secondary students legally eligible to work in Canada and able to work in-person at CBC. The program offers mentorship, training, and an hourly wage of approximately $23. Applications are open from Oct. 28 to Nov. 24, 2024, and involve a structured selection process including a skills test and interview.
Minority language community media to receive $12.5M
The Canadian government announced $12.5 million in funding to support minority language community radio stations and newspapers through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–28. Of this, $7.6 million will fund 89 new projects supporting 105 minority media outlets through the Consortium of Official Language Minority Community Media, which includes Réseau.Presse, QCNA, ARC du Canada, and ELAN, aiming to strengthen these media organizations’ capacity. Additionally, $5 million will address workforce shortages by providing 125 internships across 98 community media organizations. The Action Plan, Canada’s fifth in 20 years, commits $4.1 billion to promote and protect official languages nationwide.
Unifor calls for justice on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
On November 2, Unifor marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, advocating for justice and safety for journalists worldwide who face threats and violence for reporting truth and holding power accountable. Since 2006, over 1,700 journalists have been killed globally, with nearly 90% of cases unresolved, per UNESCO. Recent violence in Gaza underscores the risks journalists face, as 128 media workers have been killed since the conflict began, making it one of the deadliest periods for journalism. Journalists in other countries like Mexico, Afghanistan, and the Philippines continue to face violence for investigating corruption and human rights abuses. Canadian journalists also face harassment, such as Savanna Craig and Brandi Morin, who have been threatened for covering Indigenous rights issues. Unifor calls on governments to improve protections, ensure accountability, and condemn harassment, including by Conservative politicians in Canada. Unifor’s commitment includes ongoing support for journalists and efforts to create a safer, more accountable media landscape, emphasizing the essential role of press freedom in democracy and human rights.
Mi'kmaw Journalism Initiative expands to include the One-Year Bachelor of Journalism and Master of Journalism
The Mi'kmaw Journalism Initiative (MJI) at the University of King's College, launched in 2023, supports up to three Mi'kmaw students per year by covering tuition and fees for those pursuing journalism degrees, including the Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), One-Year Bachelor of Journalism, and Master of Journalism programs. Responding to community input, the MJI offers scholarships, financial awards, and fee waivers, ensuring Mi'kmaw students from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and the U.S. face no financial burden. Led by President William Lahey and developed with Indigenous community leaders, MJI aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action by fostering Indigenous representation in media, providing community support, and creating spaces for cultural connection.
Newzapalooza 2024: The Live Band Karaoke Edition!
Newzapalooza, The Media Event of the Year, returns after a pandemic break, celebrating 20 years since Toronto media bands first competed on stage. This year’s event features a live karaoke band edition at Rivoli Toronto, with The Approximators providing musical backing for media participants, all to benefit the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada. Doors open at 7:30 pm, with the show starting at 8 pm on Friday, November 8. Reservations are recommended for those wanting dinner at Rivoli before the event.
Humber journalism programs giving students the tools to succeed in an evolving media landscape
Humber Polytechnic’s journalism students now benefit from a new Humber Et Cetera website, developed through a partnership between Humber and Village Media, which provides students with a state-of-the-art platform via the Villager system, marking Humber as Canada’s first post-secondary institution to use it. The site features a professional design, offering hyperlocal news coverage, hands-on experience with advanced publishing tools, and resources like classified ads, polls, and a campus directory, enhancing student engagement. It also includes a Campus Guide and links to media content such as video interviews and podcasts. Humber’s journalism program coordinator, Mike Wise, highlights that the new platform enables students to focus on hyperlocal reporting, analytics, and audience engagement, while Village Media CEO Jeff Elgie sees this as an investment in the next generation of journalists.
Reporter - Crime, Courts and Justice, Metroland
Deputy Editor, Rest of World
Reporter, Merritt Herald
Theresa Arnold, e-mail: [email protected] / https://www.jeffgaulin.com/jobs/JobDetails.asp?id=33630
Senior Assignment Producer, Parliamentary Bureau, CBC/Radio-Canada
Managing Editor, Postmedia Calgary
News Reporter, The Brandon Sun
Send your resume and a cover letter, with relevant clippings to Matt Goerzen, e-mail: [email protected] / https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5622AQGrpIPJLXfYNA/feedshare-shrink_1280/feedshare-shrink_1280/0/1730153060190?e=1733356800&v=beta&t=mKvCi7Pv40pUCOm1g9YZBqSvX9kgD360hE8kAasKoVM
Innovation Reporter (Editorial), The Globe and Mail
Fact-Checking Editor, Reuters
Night Editor, All Business Online News Group
Ben Wood, e-mail: [email protected] / https://www.jeffgaulin.com/jobs/JobDetails.asp?id=33633
Deputy Editor, Personal Finance (Editorial), The Globe and Mail
Retirement and Financial Planning Reporter (Editorial), The Globe and Mail
Testimonials
"John’s newsletter has quickly become a must-read over the past few months, even if you’re not looking for a job. Each edition includes both carefully curated industry analyses and roles you might not find via traditional job boards. Browsing the newsletter gives you a weekly overview of the fourth estate and even provides hope (yes, outlets are still hiring!). I saw my dream job in this newsletter – and got it."
"I recently came across your newsletter, Journalism News and Jobs: Canada, and I think it is an incredible initiative. As a writer currently seeking my next role and exploring freelance opportunities, I've subscribed to several newsletters. However, yours stands out as particularly relevant, and I wanted to express my gratitude for that."
Multimedia data journalist, communications, &PR professional
4 个月Amazing gathering, thanks for sharing this
User Experience Designer with business savvy. Author and illustrator.
4 个月Excellent news! It has been so frustrating dealing with ghost postings.