The CRTC is requiring Northwestel to automatically reduce customers’ bills when internet services are disrupted for 24 hours or more, following a multi-phase public consultation to improve services in the Far North. To foster competition and provide more choice, the CRTC is also making it easier for other internet service providers to use Northwestel’s network to sell services to customers. Additionally, the CRTC is launching a public consultation to develop a subsidy to help improve affordability, aimed at helping bring the cost of internet services in the Far North closer to those in other parts of the country. The CRTC is accepting comments until Feb. 18.
The Indigenous Media Association of Canada (IMAC) formally incorporated this month with a goal to unify Indigenous media professionals and advocate for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis storytellers, including broadcasters and journalists. IMAC says its mission is to ensure safe, culturally supported spaces for truth-tellers, create a stronger and more inclusive media ecosystem, and amplify Indigenous voices in national and international dialogue. The group’s founding board members are Kerry Benjoe (Saulteaux), Interim President; Francine Compton (Anishinaabe), Interim Director; Eden Fineday (Cree), Interim Secretary; Maureen Googoo (Mi’kmaq), Interim Vice-President; and Katherine Ross (Cree), Interim Treasurer. IMAC invites Indigenous storytellers across Canada to join the movement.
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has released the findings of its fourth annual national Canadian Newsroom Diversity Survey. This year’s voluntary survey collected data on 5,806 journalists from 270 newsrooms across radio, television, digital and print media in Canada. Key findings from the 2024 survey include that about 77% of journalists identify as white, 3.5% as Indigenous and 19.5% as a visible minority. Asian journalists are the most under-represented racial category overall, making up 17.5% of the Canadian population, but only 8.7% of journalists in Canada. For full-time journalists, excluding supervisors, most racial percentages are close to their census data, except for Asian full-time journalists, who are underrepresented. Among supervisors, 83.4% identify as white, compared to 2.4% identifying as Indigenous and 14.2% as a visible minority.
The Michener Fellowships are now open to submissions until Feb. 21. The Michener – Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Reporting encourages excellence in journalism that serves the public interest through improvements in public policy, ethical standards, corporate governance or the lives of Canadians. It’s available to journalists with at least five years’ experience to complete a reporting project with a recognized Canadian news organization. The Michener – L. Richard O’Hagan Fellowship for Journalism Education is dedicated to the advancement and enrichment of the education of Canadian journalists and journalism students. It’s open to teams of up to four people (or organizations including journalism schools and media organizations) including at least one journalism educator from a post-secondary institution and one experienced journalist on the team. Each fellowship is for $40,000 and up to $5,000 in expenses. Meet past Fellowship recipients and learn more about their projects here.
The Michener Award and Rideau Hall Foundation are accepting submissions for the new Norman Webster Fellowship, designed to amplify the ecosystems of small Canadian newsrooms; recognize their critical role in keeping communities connected; providing a diversity of voices and opinions; and maintaining their journalistic independence. The Norman Webster Fellowship is valued at up to $125,000 and will provide the winning news organizations (one in English and one in French) with a unique opportunity to not only produce a groundbreaking story but also allow early career journalists to hone their craft. Honouring the legacy of the late Canadian journalist, submissions close March 21.
