Reporter, Michelle Lang Fellowship

Position: Reporter, Michelle Lang Fellowship Position Type: Full time, Temporary (Existing Vacancy) Location: Remote within Canada

The Company:Postmedia is a Canadian news media company representing more than 110 brands across multiple print, online and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. We are always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team.

The Opportunity:Michelle Lang’s journalism probed politicians, highlighted injustices, explored solutions to health care problems and told the stories of ordinary Canadians in extraordinary circumstances.

The Michelle Lang Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a promising young journalist to grow their skills in the profession and bolster their experience with a full year working with some of Canada’s busiest newsrooms.

This year’s successful applicant will work with a national editor and regional reporters to produce original and authoritative content focused on the status of health care in Canada. Alongside that work, the fellow will also be expected to focus on a specified topic within the health care sphere that would address the goals Michelle Lang aspired to in her daily journalism: telling stories that have gone unreported or unnoticed.

Their work over the year-long duration of the fellowship can draw on the widest range of journalistic tools available, from quick turnaround reporting to investigations, data projects to video storytelling.

Creativity in storytelling and a dogged approach to covering health throughout the year are key. They will work with some of the best editors in the country and their reporting will be delivered to the biggest audience through the Postmedia network.

The fellowship was established in honour of Michelle Lang, a Calgary Herald reporter who was killed by a homemade bomb on Dec. 30, 2009, on the outskirts of Kandahar, Afghanistan, along with four Canadian soldiers. Michelle was covering the Canadian military’s operations in Afghanistan. She was the Herald’s terrific young health reporter, and she had won a National Newspaper Award that spring.

The Fellowship:The Michelle Lang Fellowship is a salaried fellowship, with salary to be paid at the starter reporter rate.

Beginning in September, the fellow will work with the national health team.

Fellows will have the opportunity to report on issues of regional, national and international scope, collaborate with and learn from senior writers and reporters, as well as explore opportunities in digital journalism.

At the conclusion of their one-year fellowship, the fellow will have numerous clippings for their portfolio, a better understanding of world issues, a network of sources and contacts in media across Canada and the confidence needed to launch a successful career in journalism.

Funding for the Michelle Lang Fellowship will be provided by the Calgary Herald and Postmedia Network Inc., as well as the Michelle Lang Trust.

Who you are:Michelle Lang held a Bachelor of Arts in English so this fellowship is not limited to students studying journalism. The criteria for selection are:

• A commitment to journalism and a love of storytelling in all its forms

• Strong writing and communication skills

• A natural curiosity and a desire to effect change through journalism

• An ability to work well with colleagues

• Basic reporting skills

• Bilingualism, in French or other languages, is considered an asset

• Previous daily newspaper experience is an asset but is not mandatory

• Successful candidates must have a valid driver’s license.

Should you be interested in this opportunity please apply with the following information in one document:

• A cov...