Canada
Canadian Association of Journalists launches Indigenous Reporters Network
Ottawa/IBNS: Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has launched the Indigenous Reporters Network (IRN), with an aim to bring together both emerging and established Indigenous journalists, to build online and offline communities within the CAJ, and to train them at every career stage with opportunities in the development of their skills, participation in CAJ events and professional development, and building new connections with their peers across the country.
Besides creating opportunities for emerging journalists to launch their careers and enabling established Indigenous journalists to hone their skills, this initiative also would compensate for a shortage of Indigenous journalists in the industry, said Karyn Pugliese, past president of the CAJ.
The creation of this program is a result of a strong history of partnership between CAJ and Journalists For Human Rights (JHR), Canada’s leading media development organization to foster a more equitable, and representative, Canadian news ecosystem.
JHR not only trains journalists to report on human rights and governance issues in their communities but also spotlights human rights enabling people to start discussing these issues and demanding change.
The multi-award-winning Indigenous Reporters Program, (IRP) operated by JHR since 2013 to increase the quality and quantity of Indigenous stories and voices in Canadian media has provided training to 2500 people, including Indigenous journalists, non-Indigenous journalists learning best practices of covering Indigenous stories, Indigenous community members and Indigenous youth interested in journalism.
“Events of the past two weeks have demonstrated the urgent need for more Indigenous journalists and voices in Canadian media,” said Rachel Pulfer, executive director of Journalists for Human Rights, CAJ reported.
“In 2015, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) laid bare the critical role media has to play in advancing our country’s long-term goals of reconciliation,” said CAJ president Brent Jolly and added
“The creation of the Indigenous Reporters Network gets us one step closer to achieving those goals because it will help increase access to jobs, professional development opportunities, and leadership positions for Indigenous journalists,” CAJ reported.
As part of the program, the CAJ and JHR will be holding a joint networking and professional development event in the coming months.
JHR and CAJ are grateful for the support of the RBC Foundation’s Future Launch program, which is making this initiative possible.
As a professional organization with over 900 members across Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ)'s primary roles are public-interest advocacy work and professional development for its members.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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