The CJF's Fellowships and Bursaries represent essential initiatives that nurture emerging talent and provide critical opportunities for professional growth for Canadian journalists, empowering the next generation of storytellers, investigative reporters and news leaders. 

Canada's media landscape faces mounting challenges: declining newsroom resources, the rapid pace of digital transformation, and increasing demands for diverse voices to reflect our nation's stories. CJF Fellowships and Bursaries directly address these challenges by equipping aspiring and mid-career journalists with the skills, mentorship, and financial support needed to thrive in this evolving environment. These programs have been instrumental in fostering groundbreaking work that informs, inspires, and holds power to account.

The CJF Black Journalism Fellowship Program is a suite of five 6-month fellowships, which aim to amplify Black voices, improve coverage of Black issues in the news and cultivate future Black media leaders. Each fellowship provides a unique opportunity for an early-career Black journalist—with one-to-five years’ experience—to be hosted for six months at a CBC/Radio-Canada (English and French), Globe and Mail or CTV News newsroom or at the IJB at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

“…My experience at CBC really leveled me up as a journalist. I can’t wait to take these skills with me into my future endeavours. I want to thank everyone at CJF and CBC for taking the time to teach me and foster my curiosity.”  

-- Ashleigh Rae Thomas, 2022-2023 CJF-CBC/Radio-Canada Black Women’s Journalism Fellow

The CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships, offered to three First Nation, Inuit or Métis journalists with one to ten years of experience to explore an issue of interest, while being hosted for one month at CBC Indigenous in Winnipeg or Montreal, aim to foster better comprehension of Indigenous issues in Canada’s major media and community outlets.

My time with CBC Indigenous not only bolstered my sense of self, but also granted me the privilege of amplifying the stories of others struggling to reconnect with cultures they’ve been torn from.

-- Savannah Ridley, 2024 CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellow

CJF-CP News Creator Fellowships are a unique opportunity to participate in building the future of local news in Canada, for recent graduates of Canadian post-secondary journalism programs. This six-week fellowship is designed to provide aspiring news creators with comprehensive training and mentorship from The Canadian Press’s editors and journalists, focusing on the creation of engaging local news videos.

CJF Bursary for BIPOC Student Journalists is a $5,000 annual bursary, funded by Toronto-based communications firm Media Profile, a long-time CJF supporter, which is open to a BIPOC student in their final year of a Canadian undergraduate journalism program. It is designed 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

The CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship in Partnership with the Canadian Medical Association This NEW year-long fellowship is a groundbreaking initiative, in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is aimed at fostering expert reporting on critical health issues affecting Indigenous communities in Canada. This first-of-its-kind reporting Fellowship will fill a critical gap by fueling in-depth reporting on an underserved topic, Indigenous health.

Your support will help expand access to these vital opportunities, enabling more journalists from underrepresented communities, rural areas, and smaller markets to gain access to mentorship, training, and resources. By donating, you are investing in the storytellers who bring clarity to complex issues, amplify unheard voices, and defend democratic values through rigorous reporting.

Join us in shaping the future of Canadian journalism. Together, we can ensure that diverse, high-caliber reporting continues to thrive and strengthen our democracy. Donate today and be part of the change our industry—and our society—needs.