CJF Fellowships and Bursaries

Transforming Canadian Journalism: CJF Fellowships and Bursaries 2024-25 

 

Powerful storytelling changes lives. When Wendy-Ann Clarke stepped into the Investigative Journalism Bureau as a CJF Fellow, she didn’t just advance her career – she opened doors for countless Black journalists who will follow in her footsteps.

“Working under the tutelage of one of the best in the business, Rob Cribb along with the strong team of journalists at the IJB, has been a gift. Their standard of excellence has made me a more thorough reporter as well as a better listener and thinker.

This is the transformative power of the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Fellowships and Bursaries program. At a time when truth-telling has never been more crucial, we’re building the next generation of fearless storytellers, investigative reporters, and news leaders who reflect Canada’s rich diversity. 

Why Your Support Matters Now:

Canadian journalism stands at a crossroads. Newsrooms are shrinking. Digital transformation is accelerating. And the urgent need for diverse voices to tell our nation’s stories has never been greater. Our response? Strategic investment in tomorrow’s journalism leaders through fellowships and bursaries that provide: 

• Hands-on newsroom experience at Canada’s leading media organizations 

• One-on-one mentorship from industry veterans 

• Financial support to make journalism careers accessible to all 

• Specialized training in emerging digital storytelling techniques 

Our Impact Through Action:

The CJF Black Journalism Fellowship Program highlights our commitment to driving change. Through five prestigious 6-month fellowships at CBC/Radio-Canada, The Globe and Mail, CTV News, and the Investigative Journalism Bureau, we’re amplifying Black voices and cultivating future media leaders. Early-career Black journalists gain invaluable experience while improving coverage of Black stories in Canadian media. 

 

For Indigenous journalists like Savannah Ridley, our CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships offer more than professional development – they provide a platform for essential stories that might otherwise go untold. “My time with CBC Indigenous not only bolstered my sense of self,” says Ridley, “but also granted me the privilege of amplifying the stories of others struggling to reconnect with cultures they’ve been torn from.” 

 

Our newest initiative, the CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship, offered in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association, breaks new ground in specialized reporting. This first-of-its-kind year-long Fellowship will fill a critical gap by fueling in-depth reporting on an underserved topic, Indigenous health.

Breaking Down Barriers: 

We’re making journalism more accessible through initiatives like: 

• The CJF-CP News Creator Fellowships, launching recent graduates into careers in video journalism 

• The CJF Bursary for BIPOC Student Journalists, providing $5,000 to support students who have demonstrated strong engagement with the BIPOC community and a commitment to high journalistic standards

“As a physically disabled journalist, I initially struggled with shooting video, but I eventually adapted and now love it. I want to expand the media I can use to tell stories. Having storytelling options allows me to show more depth and to engage differently with audiences.”

— Jacob Aron Leung, recipient 2024 CJF Bursary for BIPOC Student Journalists

 

Your support does more than fund fellowships – it strengthens Canadian democracy. 

 

Every dollar invested helps:

• Place emerging journalists in leading newsrooms 

• Provide essential mentorship and professional development 

• Support groundbreaking investigative journalism 

• Amplify underrepresented voices in Canadian media 

 

By supporting CJF Fellowships and Bursaries, you’re not just investing in individual journalists – you’re investing in the future of Canadian journalism itself. Your contribution ensures that crucial stories will be told, that power will be held to account, and that tomorrow’s newsrooms will better reflect the communities they serve.  

Make your mark on Canadian journalism. Donate today.