Faith and Media Initiative (FAMI) has released the results of the largest-ever Global Faith and Media Study which finds that coverage of faith and religion has become more marginalized due to newsroom economics, success metrics (i.e. clicks), and journalist fears of “getting it wrong.” Conducted in August and September across 18 countries globally, with regions selected to cover the world’s major religions in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, the survey of more than 9,000 people (including over 1,000 Canadians) also incorporates the views of journalists and editors gathered through 30 in-depth interviews across the same geographic footprint. Read more here.
The Webster Awards, recognizing excellence in B.C. journalism, have announced the finalists in 14 categories for this year’s awards. Announced at an in-person event at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Tuesday evening, among the nominees are Commentator of the Year – City Mike Award finalists James Peters, CFJC Kamloops; Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun; and Steve Burgess, The Tyee. Finalists in Excellence in Feature/Enterprise Reporting – Radio/Podcast are: Missing Michael: Island Crime Season 3, Laura Palmer, Frequency Podcast Network; Floods, Fires and Future, Sarah Penton, Christine Coulter, Courtney Dickson, Catherine Hansen, CBC Kelowna; and Of Towns and Tigers, Joan Webber, CBC Radio– The Doc Project. Best Feature/Enterprise Reporting – TV/Video finalists include Penny Daflos, CTV Vancouver; Shannon Paterson, CTV Vancouver; and Ethan Sawyer, CBC Vancouver. Winners will be announced during an online ceremony Nov. 3.
Lisa LaFlamme and Jann Arden will host Journalists for Human Rights’ (JHR) annual gala Night for Rights 2022, taking place at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto on Sept. 29. The event’s keynote speaker is Globe and Mail Special International Correspondent Mark MacKinnon, who’ll talk about the important role of journalists in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Afghan journalist Humaira Habib will join him in underscoring why it’s important to protect Afghan voices at a time when media freedom is all but non-existent in Afghanistan. Newly-elected Unifor President Lana Payne will also grace the stage to speak about her journey from journalism to union leadership. Last year, the event raised more than $300,000 in support of JHR’s rights-based journalism programming as well as ongoing emergency evacuation work in Afghanistan. This year, with an expected turnout of 400 guests from the media, tech, corporate and government sectors, JHR targets raising $450,000.
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has announced the 74 successful applicants for the sixth round of its mentorship program. In the coming weeks, mentees will work with mentors from across the country and across mediums and platforms: radio, television, audience engagement, photojournalism, digital, and print publications. Mentors had the option to select mentees for a full six-week individual or group mentorship, or have a one-hour conversation. This allowed flexibility for mentors’ busy schedules, and ultimately for more journalists to participate in the program. The CAJ received 100 applications for this round of the program. Read more about this round of matches, here.
