The Canadian News Industry Peer Support (CNIPS) program is hosting a special group session Tuesday evening in response to recent layoffs and job cuts at Rogers Sports & Media and Corus Entertainment.
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) mental health initiative launched last year with an eye to helping provide media workers with tools to combat stress, burnout and trauma exposure.
The CAJ says Rogers’ closure of six radio stations earlier this month, alongside the elimination of 230 positions in the media division and a recent round of layoffs at Corus, comes at a time when many journalists have already been navigating industry instability.
CNIPS is hosting a confidential peer support group session via Zoom from 8 – 9 p.m. ET, offering those impacted or concerned about additional cuts in their newsrooms the opportunity to connect.
“Participants are invited to share their experiences, discuss the emotional impacts of layoffs and career uncertainty, and remind one another that no one has to navigate these challenges alone,” CAJ said in a release.
The session will be led by former Global News Toronto Executive Producer Simon Ostler, who found himself caught up in a round of layoffs in 2024 after nearly two decades in television news. The conversation is expected to touch on the emotional impact of job loss, career transitions, and the uncertainty facing today’s media industry.
CNIPS’ trained peer supporters Julia Peterson, Jacob Boon and Christy Somos will also support the conversation.
Register for Tuesday evening’s session here.
