CJF-CP News Creator Fellowships Final Report

After completing the six-week CJF-CP News Creator Fellowship, I feel much more confident in my abilities as a video journalist. Although I entered the program with prior experience working in traditional newsrooms and was already familiar with the daily flow of pitching and reporting, this was my first time consistently producing and editing video content for a national wire. The fellowship gave me the right tools, mentorship and newsroom exposure that a young journalist needs in order to grow quickly in a digital-first landscape.

 

From the start, I appreciated the support, motivation and feedback from my editors at The Canadian Press. They encouraged me to experiment, take initiative and pitch stories that aligned with both my interests and their coverage priorities. Their feedback was very valuable, not just in pointing out what I could improve but also in highlighting what I was doing well.

One of the most useful takeaways from the program was learning the different kinds of video formats we could work with, such as quick explainers, reaction pieces or the typical breaking news/presser videos. I enjoyed going into the office and attending the daily pitch meetings to see how the team takes stories from ideas to the final publication. Being a part of these everyday conversations also helped me better understand how analytics can help inform decisions and how to balance strong journalism with audience reach.

 

Another one of my favourite parts of the fellowship was being able to build my confidence in front of the camera. I enjoy writing scripts, hosting videos and breaking down complex topics for the Gen-Z audience. This fellowship was great practice learning how to do that in a fast-paced newsroom. Over the six weeks, I was able to find my tone and voice, and learn how I can contribute my skills to the needs of the wire.

 

Apart from the technical skills, I’m also coming out of the fellowship with a clearer picture of what my future career in social video journalism could look like. It was inspiring to work with other young journalists in the program who, like me,  were figuring out their strengths. I am incredibly honoured to have been a part of this journey and thankful to have had the space to experiment, make mistakes and improve in a way that’s hard to do as a young journalist in other large newsrooms.

 

I would one hundred per cent recommend this opportunity to other early-career journalists who are looking to enhance their skills and gain hands-on experience in video production in a fast-paced newsroom. I can’t wait to see what doors this opens for me. I’ll always look back on this fellowship as I advance in my career.

 

 

Featured work

 

 

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF SPONSORS YOUTUBE CANADA AND THE GOOGLE NEWS INITIATIVE