Journalists for Human Rights and Seneca Emerging Indigenous Reporter Scholarship 2018

Journalists for Human Rights is delighted to announce a new scholarship at Seneca to support Indigenous journalism students, as part of the organization's Indigenous Reporters Program.

TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is partnering with Seneca to offer a new tuition scholarship, to be funded by John Honderich and Journalists for Human Rights, for a student who identifies as First Nations, Métis or Inuit, to pursue journalism at Seneca.

The scholarship will cover tuition costs for a student studying one of the following programs at Seneca:

• Broadcasting – Radio
• Broadcasting – Television
• Documentary and Non-Fiction Media Production
• Journalism
• Photography
• Pre-Media (Media and Communications Fundamentals)

Students in Canada who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit are eligible to apply. The student must be entering their first year of studies at Seneca. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, December 4, 2018 for a program starting in January. For more information, see JHR's website or, click here. Applications should be sent to [e-mail].   

Seneca's Media & Communications programs prepare students to tell compelling stories in today's multiplatform media environment. With a cross-disciplinary approach to learning — featuring media labs, business-focused courses and work experience — students graduate with the skills and adaptability needed for a wide range of professional opportunities. Journalism students learn from award-winning faculty and gain hands-on experience in Seneca's newly-enhanced integrated newsroom at the Seneca@York Campus. Seneca's state-of-art studios provide the opportunity for students to produce content for audio, video and online platforms in a real-world setting.

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is Canada's leading media development organization. Through skills training and mentorship, JHR empowers journalists to report ethically and effectively on local human rights issues that would otherwise be ignored and unaddressed. Since 2002, JHR has trained more than 15,560 journalists in 28 countries around the world.

In 2013, JHR launched its first project in Canada, The Northern Ontario Initiative. The project worked with Indigenous communities in Ontario training community members to report from their own communities. In 2014, JHR built on this pilot and launched the Indigenous Reporters Program. This program aims to increase the quality and quantity of Indigenous stories and voices in Canadian media.

An integral goal of the program is to ensure emerging, Indigenous journalism and media students have the opportunity to be supported and gain work experience throughout their journey to becoming established Canadian journalists through scholarships and internships. Said principal funder John Honderich: "This award is much needed. I am happy and proud to support the launch of such an initiative."

Said JHR Executive Director Rachel Pulfer: "Providing scholarships of this kind is one important way we can help to make our larger goal with the Indigenous Reporters Program happen. JHR believes reconciliation, while a national effort, can only truly be realized through local initiatives, in order to be meaningful – and it is on all of us to make those efforts, in order for reconciliation to be successful."

Our thanks to CNW Group for sponsoring this announcement

Notes for Editors
Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) trains journalists worldwide to cover human rights issues ethically and objectively. For 16 years, Canada-based JHR has worked with 15,565 journalists around the world. Currently JHR operates sector-wide programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, South Sudan, Jordan, and in Canada through the Indigenous Reporters Program.

About Seneca
Combining career and professional skills training with theoretical knowledge, Seneca's expert faculty provide a polytechnic education to 30,000 full-time and 60,000 part-time students. With campuses in Toronto, York Region and Peterborough and education partners around the world, Seneca offers degrees, graduate certificates, diplomas and certificates in more than 300 full-time, part-time and online programs. Seneca's credentials are renowned for their quality and respected by employers. Co-op and work placements, applied research projects, entrepreneurial opportunities and the latest technology ensure that Seneca graduates are highly skilled and ready to work.

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SOURCE Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)

Lisa Pires, Media Relations Specialist, Seneca, [e-mail], 416 491 5050 x 77018; Rachel Pulfer, Executive Director, Journalists for Human Rights, 416 413 0240 x 206