By Priscilla Wiredu
The Canadian Association of Black Journalists (CABJ), established in 1996, is on a mission to increase a racially-diverse representation via education and inspiration. CABJ is focused on advocating for diversity in Canadian media, increasing their membership base across Canada, and offering professional opportunities, like hands-on workshops, for Black journalists and content creators.
Programs
The CABJ offers five programs to Black individuals seeking to start careers in media.
Launched in Halifax in February 2020, J-School Noireis a transformational workshop that teaches students key skills including, but not limited to, hands-on shooting, editing, podcasting, writing, and interviewing. The CABJ pairs students who complete the J-School Noire with senior journalists for a year-long mentorship to launch their media careers.
CABJ amplifies the voices of Black students in J-School campuses across Canada, in both the student body and the community. CABJ wishes to help students create a stronger andsturdier presence on campuses, as they produce their content, host events, and interact with nearby communities to inspire more Black youth to get into journalism and content creation.
CABJ provides an application form to those seeking a network in which they can find job opportunities, connections, and resources. Black media professionals can grow their portfolios, network, and get recognized by potential employers.
A three-week boot camp tailored to meet the needs of newly hired Black journalists working outside of Canadian newsrooms. This boot camp teaches courses designed by and taught to Black journalists. They have a list of past grant recipients and their achievements after graduating from the camp.
During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, CABJ reached out to members about any mental health resources they had access to in their workplaces. Many said no such services existed for them. The CABJ collaborated with Carole Sandy, a Toronto-based Black counselor to work on culturally sensitive initiatives and support for Black journalists. CABJ’s LifeLine Healing Circles were officially introduced in May of 2021, where Sandy hosted monthly sessions for Black journalists in search of a safe space to talk about their issues and the help they need. Sessions are 60 minutes and hosted by Sandy. Membership is not required to join.
Memberships
The CABJ welcomes all Canadian-based Black media professionals for a membership with the association. Interested individuals must commit to a membership for a minimum of 12 months. Different types of membership have specific eligibility requirements.
Full Membership
Open to all Black journalists residing in Canada for $75 a year or $6.25 per month for 12 months.
Freelance/emerging journalists
Open to all Black freelancers who reside in Canada with less than five years of experience for $55 a year or $4.58 per month for 12 months.
Alumni
For retired/former Black journalists who are Canadian residentsand founding members of the CABJ at $65 a year or $5.42 per month for 12 months.
Students
Open to those actively enrolled in Black journalism or media studies. Students must attend an accredited Canadian university or college institution. Student memberships cost $40 a year or $3.33 per month for 12 months.
Media-related professionals
Open to Black professionals working in public relations, advocacy, communications, blogging/vlogging, and filmmaking for a yearly $65 or $5.42 per month for 12 months.
Community journalists
Open to everyday members of the Black Community who wish to launch their own platform and tell stories about where they live. This membership costs a yearly $55 or $4.58 per month for 12 months.
Lifetime Membership
Open to all Black journalists who will be billed $1500 only once.
Hall of Fame/Black-owned media
The CABJ is set to help represent Black people in the media and to tell their stories. They have a Black-owned media webpage.The CABJworks highlight Black inventions and modern Black culture to Black history and other forms of representation.
Contact
Contact the CABJ through the association’s website to learn more about the work they’redoing to diversify newsrooms, create a broader job market for Black media professionals, and encourage a new generation of young Black aspiring journalists in Canada.
Priscilla Wiredu is a writer for this year’s Black Voice project. An alumni of York University, she graduated with Honors where she studied Social Sciences. She then went on to get an Ontario Graduate certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers, and a college certificate in Legal Office Administration at Seneca College. She is currently studying for the LSAT in hopes of going to law school. Her main goal as a Black Voices writer is to ensure Black issues and Black Pride are enunciated through her works.