CAJ Fall 2024 Mentorship Program Matches 52 Journalists With Mentors

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is pleased to announce that 52 early- and mid-career journalists (including this guy’s own Hannah Alper) have been successfully matched with mentors as part of the 11th round of its semi-annual mentorship program.

“Matching more than 50 journalists to be mentored by some of the best and most talented in our industry is a tremendous way to ring in a new year,” said Brent Jolly, CAJ president. “Journalists helping journalists develop new skills and techniques to help them succeed is a beacon of optimism that is at the core of the CAJ’s mission in 2025.”

Over the course of the next few months, mentees will work with mentors from across the country, mediums and platforms. Mentors had the option to select mentees for a full six-week individual or group mentorship, or to have a one-hour conversation. This allowed flexibility for mentors’ busy schedules, and allowed for more early- and mid-career journalists to participate in this round of the program.

The CAJ received a total of 107 applications for this round of the mentorship program. As a competitive program, applications were first evaluated by a panel of committee members and then shared with individual mentors. Mentors then made the final decision about which mentees they wanted to work with.

The mentorship matches for this round are:

  • Shireen Ahmed – Columnist, CBC Sports
    • Selsela Naseri – Presenter, Mawj TV
    • Lauren Phillips – Education reporter, The Coast; Freelance journalist; OCUFA Higher Education Fellowship
  • Drew Anderson – Alberta-Saskatchewan reporter, The Narwhal
    • Emma Arkell – Freelance journalist
  • Patricia Bitu-Tshikudi – Morning radio show host, ICI Manitoba
    • Sorousheh Salman – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Laurence Brisson Dubreuil – Video journalist, CTV News Montreal
    • Emma Honeybun – Journalist and photographer, Canstar Community News
  • Rachel Browne – Freelance journalist
    • Hannah Alper – Student, Western University; Coordinating editor, Western Gazette
    • Emma Jones – Recent masters graduate, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Darren Calabrese – Freelance photojournalist
    • Keito Newman – Student, Soka University of America
  • Adrian Ghobrial – Senior correspondent, CTV National News
    • Adam Duffy – Student, Fanshawe College
  • Mike Hager – B.C reporter, The Globe and Mail
    • Robert Korotyszyn – Reporter, Western Wheel
    • Emma Bainbridge – Student, McGill University
  • Nicholas Hune-Brown – Executive editor, The Local
    • Mayumi Ramos – Student, University of Toronto
    • Asad Chishti – Casual reporter/editor, CBC North/Yukon
  • Paul Hunter – Journalist, CBC News
    • Yalda Sarwar – Student, Carleton University; Volunteer host/anchor, CKCU Radio
    • Freshta Farhang – Publisher/editor-in-chief, Kharbanama News Agency
    • Konnor Killoran – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Godlove Kamwa – TV host, ICI Manitoba
    • Caroline Samii-Esfahani – Freelance journalist
  • Tamara Khandaker – Podcast producer, Al Jazeera
    • Genevieve Sugrue – Student, University of Toronto
    • Lucas-Matthew Marsh – Freelance journalist
    • Meriem Nour – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Adrian Lee – Opinion editor, The Globe and Mail
    • Angelina Mazza – Freelance journalist
    • Diary Marif – Journalist, Rabble
    • Andrea Varsany – Freelance journalist
    • Angus MacCaull – Student, University of King’s College; Freelance journalist
    • Nalyn Tindall – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University; Features editor, The Eyeopener
    • Kayla Kurin – Freelance journalist
  • Geoff Leo – Investigative reporter, CBC News
    • Julia Israel – Video journalist, CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Clara Loiseau – Journalist, Journal de Montréal
    • Christopher Nardi – Parliamentary reporter, National Post
    • Alexis Zhou – Student, McGill University; Freelance journalist
  • Maggie Macintosh – Education reporter, Winnipeg Free Press
    • Angela Capobianco – Digital broadcast journalist, Global News Halifax
    • Cassidy McMackon – Reporter/editor, The Canadian Press
  • Samira Mohyeddin – Founder, On The Line Media
    • Azeeza Kagzi – Student, University of Ottawa; Broadcast news editor, The Fulcrum
  • Colin Perkel – Retired journalist, formerly with The Canadian Press
    • Patrick Sutherland – Executive director, The Ontarion Campus Newspaper
    • Ariel Tozman – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Saša Petricic – Senior foreign correspondent, CBC News
    • Jack Sutton – Student, Fanshawe College; Writer/podcaster/host, FSU (The Interrobang Newspaper)
    • Alexis Lapointe – Freelance journalist
  • Aarti Pole – Network anchor, CBC News
    • Shaaranki Kulenthirarasa – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Sarah Rieger – News writer, WealthSimple Media
    • Faith Tabladillo – Student, MacEwan University
    • Lauren Anjema – Student, University of Western Ontario
  • Manjula Selvarajah – National technology columnist, CBC Radio
    • Arrthy Thayaparan – Digital producer, Thomson Reuters
    • Ryan Persaud – Student, Humber College
  • Matt Simmons – Journalist, The Narwhal
    • Tori Fitzpatrick – Reporter/editor, CBC News
    • Caroline Bellamy – Freelance journalist
  • Donna Sound – Reporter, CTV National News
    • Vanessa Tiberio – Student, Toronto Metropolitan University; Radio room reporter, Toronto Star
    • Christian Zdravko – Student, University of Toronto
  • Liz Sullivan – Deputy editor of visuals, The Globe and Mail
    • Kai Wilson – Student, Western University; Photo and layout editor, Western Gazette
  • Salim Valji – Calgary reporter, TSN
    • Andrew Wilimek – Student, University of Ottawa; Co-editor-in-chief, The Fulcrum
  • Connie Walker – Investigative journalist
    • Mikayla Tallon – Student, University of Regina
    • Dionne Phillips – Freelance journalist
  • Marika Wheeler – Journalist, Radio-Canada
    • Jules Bugiel – Journalist in residence, CKUT Radio
  • Jen Zoratti – Arts reporter and columnist, Winnipeg Free Press
    • Madison Taylor – Student, Queen’s University