This Black History/Black Futures Month the CJF hosted an illuminating panel discussion with Nathan Downer (CTV News Toronto), Allya Davidson (CBC’s The Fifth Estate), Wendy Ann Clarke (Investigative Journalism Bureau) and Dominique Gené (2024 CJF-Globe and Mail Black Business Journalism Fellow). CTV News Toronto Weekend Anchor & Videojournalist Andria Case will moderate the discussion.Our distinguished panelists shared their experiences navigating Canadian media, explored the evolution of diverse storytelling, and discussed how the media landscape is transforming to better reflect Black Canadian voices and experiences. They examined the critical role of mentorship in advancing Black voices in journalism and building inclusive newsrooms.
About the Speakers
Wendy-Ann Clarke
Multimedia journalist Wendy-Ann Clarke is a reporter for the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the Dalla Lanna School of Public Health, where she brings a passion for exploring the ways in which history, culture, sociology, psychology, and other disciplines intersect to bring greater understanding to the news stories of today. Clarke’s in-depth investigative reporting on First Nations health care reflects her deep commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and advancing equity in journalism. A former track-and-field athlete and coach, prior to joining the IJB, she worked with CBC Sports covering a wide range of sporting disciplines and reported on athletics during the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Allya Davidson
Allya Davidson is a multiple Emmy, RTDNA and Canadian Screen Award-winning investigative journalist. She is the executive producer of CBC News’ flagship investigative documentary program, The Fifth Estate, now in its 50th season. Allya has produced documentaries for VICE and CTV’s W5, and internationally for Channel 4 (UK), ZDF (Germany), Four Corners (Australia) and PBS Frontline. She is passionate about mentoring BIPOC journalists and advancing equity in the field. Allya gave the inaugural Al Hamilton Lecture at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Spring of 2024; her lecture’s contents are now part of several first-year syllabi at TMU.
Nathan Downer
Dominique Gené
Dominique Gené is the 2024 recipient of the CJF-The Globe and Mail Black Business Journalism fellowship. She’s reported on government and bank loan programs for Black entrepreneurs, diversity reports across company boards in Canada, the TSX index and more. Dominique spent last summer in Cote d’Ivoire producing a podcast episode on nature-based climate solutions for Farm Radio International. Her work has been published in Broadview Magazine, THIS, New Canadian Media and more. Dominique is a 2024 Journalism and Humanities graduate of Carleton University.
About the Moderator
Andria Case
Andria Case anchors CTV News Toronto’s weekend newscasts, and contributes to weekday newscasts with regular reports from across the city. She joined the station in 1997 as a general assignment videojournalist. As CTV News Toronto’s go-to arts and entertainment reporter, Case regularly covers red carpet events ranging from TIFF to The JUNO Awards. She has interviewed a multitude of international celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, and Sting. Case was born in England to Jamaican parents, and spent her early years there before moving to Canada. She studied Journalism and Advertising at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University).