Fellowship

Omar Sachedina and CTV News are launching a new fellowship for up-and-coming journalists looking to jump-start their career in news. The fellowship is administered by RTDNF Canada. Read on to find out how to apply and what the fellowship would look like.

If selected as a Sachedina/CTV News Fellow, you will receive $10,000 to complete an original piece of journalism. Half of the award ($5,000) will be awarded upon selection, with the remainder granted upon completion of the project.

As part of the Fellowship, you will be required to demonstrate a commitment to the topic through previous work and ongoing sourcing, and produce a substantial and original piece of reporting within six (6) months of being selected. This project should reflect a subject or theme that makes a difference to Canada and the people who reside here.

You will have access to expertise and resources at the University of Toronto’s Massey College. Specifically, Massey College will:

• List your bio and photo on its website
• Provide access to the University of Toronto’s library for the duration of the Fellowship
• Provide access to all public spaces at Massey College
• Connect each Fellow with a Senior Member at Massey College who will help connect you with subject matter experts in your field of journalistic research
• Provide membership in the Massey College Alumni Association upon completion of the project

Your work may also be published on (a) CTV News platform(s), with the input of journalists on staff. CTV News retains the first publication rights of material created as a result of the Fellowship.

Two Fellows will be selected in the inaugural year (2024), and one Fellow will be chosen annually thereafter.

To apply for the Fellowship, you must:

• Be within one year of graduation from a Canadian broadcast or journalism course at college or university OR recently graduated (within the past two years)
• Use the Fellowship to produce a substantial and original piece of journalism that will inform, educate or inspire – and contribute to a greater understanding of Canada
• Have a proven commitment to the topic and a specific angle you want to pursue. This can include having contacts with sources and previous published pieces of journalism on similar themes. Journalism produced at college or university can be submitted
• Be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or hold a Canadian work visa
• Team submissions (maximum 4) will be accepted, with the financial award evenly distributed if the team is successful

Please submit the following:

• A cover letter (no more than 500 words) explaining:
  1. The specific reporting project you want to pursue;
  2. Your previous commitment to the issues covered in the project and whether you have contacts/sources in the area;
  3. Why you want to pursue this project;
  4. How you would structure the story digitally (social media, web, and for television).
• A short video (60 seconds or less) introducing yourself and why the Fellowship would be meaningful for you.
• Your resume and previous samples of your work.
• Your most recent transcript.
• Two references from previous colleagues or teachers from your journalism program.

All applications must be submitted online through this link.