TORONTO, April 27, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is pleased to announce Stephanie Cram and Trevor Jang as the recipients of this year's Aboriginal Journalism Fellowships.
Cram, a Métis multimedia journalist in Winnipeg, who also has experience as a health researcher, plans to investigate issues that people in remote First Nations' communities face when trying to access health services. Cram saw some of these issues firsthand while living for eight months in the remote Sachigo Lake First Nation community in northern Ontario, while working as a journalism trainer.
Jang, a reporter and content creator at Roundhouse Radio 98.3 in Vancouver, aims to explore issues of indigenous identity and reconciliation, an idea triggered in part by the decision at an All-Native Basketball Tournament to ban a participant based on his ancestry, despite his being adopted at birth by the Heiltsuk First Nation. Jang himself is from the Laksilyu (Small Frog) Clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation in northwestern British Columbia, and is also Chinese-Canadian.
"Newsrooms across Canada desperately need more indigenous voices: the high quality of this year's Fellowship applicants suggests more and more young indigenous reporters are eager to fill those roles," says Duncan McCue, chair of the jury and Vancouver-based correspondent with The National, CBC News. "The jury was especially impressed by Stephanie Cram and Trevor Jang. We look forward to their reportage."
Established as a single fellowship opportunity, the award expanded last year to allow two Aboriginal journalists early in their careers the opportunity to explore issues of interest to First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples while being hosted by CBC News for one month at its Aboriginal centre in Winnipeg (www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal). The award aims to foster better understanding of Aboriginal issues in Canada's major media and community outlets.
The story or series resulting from the fellowship experiences will be considered for publication or broadcast by CBC News. CJF provides a stipend of $3,000, all associated travel and accommodation costs, a per diem for meals and other reasonable expenses for each fellow.
The awards will be presented at the CJF Awards on June 16 in Toronto at The Fairmont Royal York. Follow #CJFawards on Twitter.
Jury
Co-chair - Duncan McCue, correspondent, The National, CBC News, and a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation in Ontario
Co-chair - Bob Lewis, board member, The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Kathy English, public editor, Toronto Star
Jack Nagler, director of Journalistic Public Accountability and Engagement, CBC News
Bob Rae, lawyer, negotiator, speaker, writer and former political leader
Paul Watson, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Thank you to CBC News, RBC Foundation, CN, CJF honorary governor Rosemary Speirs and Isabel Bassett, former chair and CEO of TVO, for their generous support of these fellowships.
About The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes excellence in journalism by celebrating outstanding journalistic achievement. Our signature events include an annual awards program featuring a must-attend industry gala where Canada's top newsmakers meet Canada's top news people. Through J-Talks, our popular speakers' series, we facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also supports journalism websites J-Source.ca (English) and ProjetJ.ca (French) and fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research.
SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation
Image with caption: "Stephanie Cram and Trevor Jang are this year's recipients of the CJF Aboriginal Journalism Fellowships, to be presented at the Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards in Toronto on June 16. (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160427_C7907_PHOTO_EN_675664.jpg
Image with caption: "Stephanie Cram and Trevor Jang are this year's recipients of the CJF Aboriginal Journalism Fellowships, to be presented at the Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards in Toronto on June 16. (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160427_C7907_PHOTO_EN_675666.jpg
Natalie Turvey, Executive Director, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, 416-955-0394, [email protected]
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