Canadian Association of Black Journalists
The Canadian Association of Black Journalists exists to give rise to Black journalists.
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CABJ x CJOC invite journalists to speak at groundbreaking conference

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It’s time. 

It’s time for a journalism conference in Canada that’s focused on celebrating journalists of colour and reimagining an equitable future for the media industry. That’s why the Canadian Association of Black Journalists (CABJ) and Canadian Journalists of Colour (CJOC) are excited to host our inaugural joint conference—for and by racialized journalists. Mark your calendars: On May 1, 2021, RISE is coming to Toronto. In a post-COVID world, people have different comfort levels when it comes to in-person gatherings, so our conference will be online only or hybrid (i.e. some sessions will be in-person, while others will be streamed online). Space is limited, so sign up here to get notified when registration opens.

Why you should attend RISE.

If you're excited for change in our industry, then RISE is for you. Conference programming will be geared towards helping racialized journalists in Canada level up their careers, and will focus on skills development to prepare them for the future of journalism. Join over 200 industry and thought leaders, change agents and newsroom managers as they:

  • Connect with an empowered community of journalists of colour. Both CABJ and CJOC want the media industry to truly represent Canada’s racial diversity, fulfilling our country’s commitment to multiculturalism. But often times, we are “the only one” in predominantly white newsrooms. RISE is an opportunity to address our shared experiences and not feel so alone.   

  • Learn cutting-edge skills from leading journalists of colour. Black, Indigenous and journalists of colour who are at the forefront of this industry will be sharing their knowledge about the latest developments in investigative journalism, community-driven journalism, digital platforms, media business models and much more. 

  • Contribute to an industry-wide conversation about equity and anti-racism. CABJ, CJOC and our partners feel strongly that the need for policies around diversity, equity and inclusion should go beyond committees and band-aid solutions. This is what inspired our joint Canadian Media Diversity: Calls to Action document released in January 2020. We believe this kind of change begins at the top, so we plan to convene frank and solutions-focused discussions at the conference.

RISE is an “unconference” conference: There’s less talking at you and more collaborative dialogue. We’re focused on solutions, and producing concrete outcomes from our interactive workshops, panels and presentations. Expect a mix of skills training, equity-focused programming and real talk. Journalism leaders and experts from across North America will lead a new wave of conversation in an industry that’s long overdue for change.

Why you should sponsor RISE.

Inspirit Foundation, CWA Canada and TD have already signed on as our lead sponsors. If you join them, you’ll be part of an important initiative that helps amplify journalists of colour in Canada, going beyond symbolic gestures by supporting a conference focused on real change. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please email contact@cabj.news

Why you should volunteer at RISE.

Who wouldn’t want to be part of the organizing team for a disruptive conference focused on Canadian journalism? Your energy and commitment are part of the driving force behind what will make this event a success. If you’re interested, please email contact@cabj.news and include the subject line “RISE volunteer.”

Why you should speak at RISE.

In an effort to centre racialized voices at RISE, we want to hear from you, our community of journalists of colour. We’d like your proposals for sessions and speakers, which should align with the four pillars of our conference:

  • R - Race (navigating predominantly white newsrooms, decolonizing media, “objectivity”)  

  • I - Innovation (new business models, community-driven journalism)

  • S - Social Justice (equity, equal pay, representative news coverage)

  • E - Excellence (learning cutting-edge skills from leading racialized journalists)

We can’t wait to read your proposals! Please fill out our online form by January 15, 2021. 

Before submitting your proposal, ask yourself these questions:

  • Is the topic for your proposed session innovative, timely and well thought out?

  • Does your proposed session meet the needs of an audience of journalists of colour?

  • Do you clearly explain the objectives and takeaways for your proposed session?

  • Does your proposed session translate well in a virtual environment?

Here’s what we don’t want:

  • Sales pitches: This is not an opportunity to market your business to a diverse audience. Please ensure your proposed session does not appear to sell or promote any particular product or service. 

  • No contact information: If we can’t reach you, then we won’t be able to follow up about your proposed session. 

CABJ