The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Greg Clark Award offers journalists early in their careers a chance to go behind the scenes and meet key decision-makers on their beats. The award was created in memory of one of Canada’s greatest journalists, Greg Clark, who was a war correspondent, an avid outdoorsman, a humourist, but above all, a great reporter who excelled at storytelling. This award is unique in Canadian journalism. The successful applicant(s) will get an opportunity to spend up to a week observing the inner workings of an organization not usually accessible to the working journalist. The award addresses the need for a broader awareness and exposure of the increasing complexity of issues and institutions journalists must cover in day-to-day reporting. The successful applicant(s) will also receive $5,000 for travel and accommodation expenses and incidentals, with unused funds converted into a stipend. They’ll also be recognized at the annual CJF Awards on June 8, 2017 in Toronto. Deadline for applications is Friday, February 24, 2017, 11:59 pm EST.
Award criteria
- Applications will be welcomed from Canadian journalists who have been employed for one to five years and are employed by, under contract to, or freelancing on the news and editorial side of regularly published newspapers and periodicals, TV and radio news broadcasters, and online publications.
- Applicants must agree that any information gathered is off-the-record unless the sponsoring organization agrees otherwise. There may be an opportunity to pitch stories to specific media outlets together with the sponsoring organization.
- Successful applicants will write a brief summary of their experience and provide photos/video upon completion of their professional development opportunity to be posted on the CJF website.
How to apply
- Submit a detailed proposal of no more than two pages outlining how you’d like to use this professional development opportunity to expand knowledge of your beat. Explain how the internship will help you in your daily work.
- Provide links to two examples of your beat work.
- Include your resume.
- Submit a proposed budget for all travel and accommodation expenses, and incidentals (meals, public transit/taxis) up to a maximum of $5,000.
- Include at least one letter of recommendation from a relevant employer.
The jury will be looking for innovative proposals from journalists interested in expanding their knowledge and understanding of issues, rather than their reporting skills. All arrangements for the award assignment will be made in consultation with award winners. The successful applicant(s) will have their expenses covered for any travel and accommodation costs. Please use the ONLINE APPLICATION.
For more information, please contact programs@cjf-fjc.ca.
A message from last year’s winner
Jayme Poisson, an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star, was the 2016 Greg Clark Award recipient. Watch her acceptance speech at the 2016 CJF Awards.
