Veteran journalist Melissa Ridgen is joining Global News in the newly-created role of Network Managing Editor, starting Oct. 24.
Arriving from APTN where she’s been a host, producer and reporter since 2009, most recently for APTN National News. Prior to joining APTN, she spent more than 24 years on the beat covering crime, courts and politics for the Brandon Sun, Calgary Sun, and Kenora Daily Miner & News.
Global News calls the Network Managing Editor position “a new and significant role for the network, and a reflection of Global News’ dedication to telling stories that reflect the communities it serves.”
A Red River Métis, Global says Ridgen will focus on amplifying Indigenous voices and driving investigative and enterprise reporting dedicated to issues concerning First Nations and Inuit peoples. She’ll also identify and develop stories for Global National, The New Reality and Globalnews.ca, in addition to advising and supporting journalists and editors across the network covering Indigenous stories.
“This is a unique and critically important role for our news division as we work to improve our journalism to better reflect underrepresented communities,” said Ingrid Bakewell, Director of National News, in a Corus Entertainment announcement. “Melissa brings more than two decades of editorial experience to Global News, and in addition to being a working journalist, she will be a key leader and mentor to Global News reporters across the country.”
A 1996 Mount Royal University Journalism grad, Ridgen made history last year as the first Indigenous journalist representing an Indigenous national TV broadcaster to pose questions to leaders during a nationally-televised federal election debate.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including a 2021 National Native Media Award for her reportage on child welfare, a 2016 CWA Canada/Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) honour for labour reporting, and was the 1998 Edward Dunlop winner for Investigative Journalism for her reporting on the in-custody death of Ojibway trapper Joseph Pahpasay in Kenora in 1994.
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