Student journalists meet industry experts  

By Shyla Myran


Students at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) spent two days with some of Canada’s top journalists.

The university hosted the first-ever Indigenous Peoples, Media, and Democracy Conference on May 7th. The following day the Michener Awards Foundation held its annual Michener Days.

“The conference gave the students a chance to meet mostly Indigenous journalists from across the country and hear panels that are specific to the industry that they plan to go into,” said  Shannon Avison, associate professor of Indigenous Communication Arts (INCA).

Several workshops were held during the Michener Days, which students could participate in. 

This was the first time in more than a decade the Michener Awards Foundation traveled  outside of Ontario and Quebec. 

The event featured presentations by past recipients of Michener awards and fellowships, awarded for outstanding journalism.  

Both events were hosted by INCA, which launched a four-year Bachelors of Indigenous journalism and communications in March

Students attending the INCA summer Institute took in panel discussions and the chance to mingle with seasoned journalists.

Both days started off with ceremonies to provide a positive environment for all attendees.

Topics included decolonizing the media, adapting to new platforms like TikTok and maintaining mental health while covering traumatic stories

These conferences are really all about showcasing all of the different opportunities and then helping our students network with people who do these jobs so that they can break into the industry,” said Merelda Fiddler-Potter, assistant professor who organized the conferences.

In a workshop on trauma-informed reporting, Globe and Mail national reporter Nancy Macdonald shared insights on what it takes to investigate tough stories.

“Human first, journalist second,” she emphasized.

Macdonald said it’s important to spend time and get to know people, creating a connection of trust and ensuring that the correct version of the story is told. 

Panelist Coraline Touzin, an investigative journalist for La Presse, agreed.

Touzin shared the importance of gaining the trust of an interviewee. 

The interviewer must create a connection to better understand the different situations that they find themselves in, she advised.

Touzin said that it is a responsibility for the interviewer to respect and validate Indigenous people’s experiences by ensuring that the truth is known

The topics provided great insights into how to properly conduct investigative journalism. Many of the INCA students built connections with senior journalists that will likely be valuable in the future.