Sachedina/CTV News Journalism Fellowship

Omar Sachedina and CTV News are launching a new fellowship for up-and-coming journalists looking to jumpstart 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.

Important Dates:

APPLICATION DATE: Entries must be received by Sunday June 30, 2024 @ 11:59 PM (EDT).

STEP 1: Review the Qualifications

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

STEP 2: Start the Online Process

Start by selecting the fellowship you wish to apply to. Then add your contact information including your e-mail address.

Once you have submitted the information above, sign into the website to complete your application and upload your media files. You may edit your application (as many times as you want) until the submission deadline to either complete or modify your entry.

Please submit the following:

A cover letter (no more than 500 words) explaining:

The specific reporting project you want to pursue;
Your previous commitment to the issues covered in the project and whether you have contacts/sources in the area;
Why you want to pursue this project;
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.

Deadline is Sunday June 30, 2024 @ 11:59 PM (EDT)
All entries must be submitted online.

Depending on your computer system the email may go to your Spam or Junk inbox. We suggest you add info@submissions.rtdnfcanada.com to your email list.

STEP 3: Review the Technical Guidelines for permissible Media

Unlike other scholarships, you are not required to send your completed work. However, you may consider sending sample of your stories - digital, audio or video files - that deal with the topic you would like to explore in-depth.

Before you complete your application as outlined in Step 5 below, we recommend that you review the Technical Guidelines in order to prepare the media file (sound or video) that you are required to upload prior to the submission deadline.

STEP 4: Complete your Fellowship Submission and Upload your Media File

Log in to the submissions site using the e-mail address and password which you registered with. Click the "Begin new submission" button to start a new submission, or click the "Edit" link next to an existing submission. On that web page, you will be asked to answer some questions regarding your fellowship submission as well as a description of your entry. Your submissions can be edited until the submission deadline and you can revisit that web page as many times as you want to either complete or modify your entry.

Finally you will be asked to upload your media file. This includes your 60 second video and any sample work you would like to add to your applications.

Should you have any technical questions during this process please use the Help Button located at the bottom of that web page. This will put you in direct contact with our technical staff, who will be pleased to assist.