The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is launching a new year-long training and mentorship program aimed at helping emerging Canadian content creators build independent digital news organizations.
Supported by the Google News Initiative, the CJF NextGen Creator-Journalists Training Program: Digital Catalyst will provide up to 20 participants with 12 months of training, mentorship and support from digital-first publishers and experts. The program will encompass a six-month foundation and skill-building phase, followed by six months of mentorship.
It will cover:
- Digital distribution strategies: website optimization, SEO, social media strategy and analytics
- AI and online resources: podcasting, newsletters, YouTube optimization, AI newsroom applications
- YouTube training: channel setup, video content planning, discoverability and monetization
- Editorial standards: ethics, fact-checking, source verification, legal considerations
- Defining your niche: audience development, positioning and value articulation
- Sustainability: diversified monetization strategies, community building, brand partnerships and grant writing
Upon completion of the program, participants will be eligible for “Ambassador” stipends of up to $10,000 to support digital development, training, conferences, innovation projects and community impact initiatives.
“How Canadians consume news is fundamentally changing, with audiences increasingly turning to digital sources for information,” said CJF President & Executive Director Natalie Turvey, in an announcement. “Independent creators are identifying and filling information gaps that exist across the country. This program provides the business expertise and editorial foundation to help Canada’s most promising creator-journalists build sustainable news organizations that serve their communities for the long term.”
Applications are now open. Among those eligible are independent journalists, podcasters, newsletter publishers, small newsrooms and other digital-first content creators who want to expand their reach and experiment with new formats and platforms.
The program will conclude with an in-person showcase event in Toronto next October where participants will present their projects.
