News Media Canada Calls for Local Journalism Initiative Applications for Short-term and Freelance Projects

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--News Media Canada, the voice of Canada’s print and digital news media industry, is calling today for new applications to its Local Journalism Initiative program.

Applications are being sought for short term projects, including freelance and contract positions from Indigenous media across Canada, Quebec French media, and from English media from the rest of the country. All projects in this round should be completed by March 31, 2021.

Print and digital news media are eligible to apply for funding to News Media Canada. Applications are due on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. More specifically, and considering previous grant allocations, the program is looking for approximately 10 to 20 positions, particularly at French media in Quebec, and at Indigenous media—that is, media published by and for Indigenous communities—anywhere in Canada.

Created and funded by the Government of Canada, the Local Journalism Initiative is a five-year program that supports the creation of original civic journalism relevant to the diverse needs of people living in news deserts and areas of news poverty across Canada. Areas of “news poverty” are communities where there is limited access to journalistic content about civic issues and institutions through a daily or community newspaper or public or private broadcaster. Available sources of local news — whether a newspaper, a community radio station or other media — demonstrate significant gaps in coverage due to a lack of capacity. News Media Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative program is open to English, French, and Indigenous print and online media across Canada. News media interested in applying can do so at: https://nmc-mic.ca/lji/news-organizations/apply/.

Launched in 2019, the Initiative provides funding for host newsrooms to hire reporters, supporting accurate and reliable civic journalism in underserved communities. Local Journalism Initiative coverage will help ensure the vitality of democracy, better inform citizens, engage community and foster civic debate, to connect Canadians with their local governments, in their councils, courts and other civic institutions. Since December 2019, News Media Canada’s program has approved funding for 199 journalists in 162 host newsrooms across Canada, including 31 new projects approved in May 2020. (Click here for the complete list.) Civic journalism produced by LJI reporters is available to all Canadian news media organizations for re-publication via the LJI news portal. For more information, visit www.localjournalisminitiative.ca.

About News Media Canada

News Media Canada is the voice of the print and digital news media industry in Canada and represents hundreds of trusted titles in every province and territory. News Media Canada is an advocate in public policy for daily and community media outlets and contributes to the ongoing evolution of the news media industry by raising awareness and promoting the benefits of news media across all platforms. For more information, visit us at www.newsmediacanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.