The Independent is accepting applications for a General Assignment Reporter Fellow.
As Newfoundland and Labrador’s go-to media outlet for independent news and analysis, The Independent is looking for an ambitious journalist who understands the province’s media landscape and will bring fresh ideas for underreported stories and stories which are lacking representation and nuance in mainstream media coverage and/or public discourse.
The Indy Fellowship is a 10-month program for a journalist in Newfoundland and Labrador who is at any point in their career, but who has at least one year of experience as a journalist, including student journalism. They may be based anywhere in the province.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to pitch ideas for news stories, opinion and analysis pieces, investigative and feature stories, and podcast episodes. They will be supported by The Independent’s editorial staff in researching, interviewing, investigating, filing access to information requests, writing, recording and editing.
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The Fellow will also pitch three ideas for a larger project, to which part of their time at The Independent will be devoted. One of those ideas will be chosen in cooperation with The Indy’s editorial team, and may comprise a combination of styles and forms of journalistic storytelling.
The Fellow’s responsibilities include:
- Seeking out and speaking with sources to better understand the efforts by residents and grassroots groups or movements who are advocating for change in NL;
- Filing at least 1-2 stories or articles per week;
- Joining weekly meetings with The Independent’s editorial team;
- Joining members of the editorial team for one-on-one editorial meetings to discuss and support the Fellow’s work;
- Participating in skill-building sessions;
- Some travel within the province.
Who we’re looking for
Due to the nature of the Fellowship’s grant funding, the position is open to applicants who are Black, Indigenous or a member of another racialized group, and/or who are members of a religious minority.
The Independent is seeking a self-motivated journalist who will bring their own ideas, who are well-connected within grassroots communities, or who are eager to build relationships within those communities to better understand how journalists and media can better report on the issues facing marginalized communities.
At The Independent, part of our mission is to “engage, inform, and empower readers on issues important to Newfoundland and Labrador.” Our priority areas of reporting include grassroots activism, the environment, climate change, Indigenous rights, labour, gender equity, anti-racism and racial justice, the arts, and politics.
Since The Independent does not have a physical newsroom, the successful candidate will require access to reliable internet and their own equipment necessary for reporting.
The Independent is committed to employment equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. In addition to identifying how they meet the criteria for this fellowship, we encourage applicants to identify if they belong to other equity-deserving groups, including women; people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities, and racialized people; and people with disabilities. We recognize that these identities intersect.
This wage for this position is $26/hour for 35 hours per week.
Minimum qualifications
- at least one year of experience in journalism;
- ability to read and write fluently in English;
- some familiarity with Newfoundland and Labrador history, society, politics and movements, including Innu, Inuit and Mi’kmaw communities;
- proficiency with journalistic research techniques;
- ability to meet tight deadlines;
- familiarity with labour movements and union politics in the province;
- experience in social media management and posting;
- legally permitted to work in Canada.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter of one page or less, outlining why they are a good candidate for this fellowship, along with 2-3 published works which demonstrate their knowledge and work around stories or issues the Independent has covered or would likely be interested in covering. In your cover letter, please highlight what work experience you have that makes you a good fit for this position, what stories you are eager to report if you are the successful candidate, any other qualifications that make you a strong candidate for this job.
The Independent is committed to an accessible and inclusive hiring process. Should you require any accommodations during the application process, please contact Justin Brake at editor [at] theindependent.ca. Our hiring committee will conduct interviews on a rolling basis and will accept applications submitted until May 17, 2024.
Please submit applications to editor [at] theindependent.ca.
