Apply for the 2021 J-Source/CWA Canada reporting fellowship
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on a number of industries across Canada. Journalism is no exception. The pandemic has changed the working lives of journalists across the country, impacted our information ecosystems and upended our reporting practices.
With funding from CWA Canada, J-Source will hire a paid reporting fellow who will investigate the unprecedented challenges journalists face and aim to provide insights into how media workers and news organizations can adapt to both the current and post-pandemic world of journalism.
Fellowship objectives
The successful candidate will explore how the pandemic has directly impacted the lives of journalists working in Canada through five features. Although each well-researched piece will provide context and critique for a given coverage area, this series will emphasize a solutions-based approach to the human impact of new challenges and break new ground in public discussions about the future of journalism.
Journalists and members of the public will come away with change-making knowledge and guidelines for action. Areas for exploration may include (but will not be limited to) labour, equity, business models, policy, audience trust and disinformation.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an early-career freelancer, current student or recent graduate who is passionate and interested in the work of journalism.
Potential applicants should:
- Have experience doing digital journalism
- Be experienced writing in CP style
- Have demonstrated experience with feature writing
- Be interested in media, policy, labour and technology-related issues
- Have experience with self-directed work
- Be able to meet all deadlines and communicate promptly with editors
The successful applicant can be based anywhere in Canada; candidates will ideally be able to demonstrate a proven track record working remotely with editors at other publications.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.
The approximate starting date for the fellow will be mid-March. The candidate will be expected to meet remotely with J-Source’s editorial staff once a week and provide updates on their work. We expect all work to be completed within six months of the start date.
The fellow will be offered a contract that includes payment of $3,000 for the completion of five articles, or $600 per article, during the fellowship term.
We thank CWA Canada for its financial support for this position. The reporting fellow will report directly to J-Source’s managing editor and editor-in-chief. No CWA Canada staff or members will be involved in any editorial decisions made by the fellow or J-Source editorial staff. J-Source and the fellow will have complete editorial independence to pursue stories within the parameters of the fellowship.
How to apply
Please send a cover letter, including two story ideas that reflect the direction of your reporting interest for this fellowship, a resume, two professional references and three clips in a single pdf to info@j-source.ca with “2021 J-Source/CWA Canada reporting fellowship application” in the subject line.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 31.