Change can't happen if the issues we need to address go unobserved or unreported. Asking the right questions to the right people, and sharing the answers, is key to organizing, and this is something Jack Layton knew all too well. He inspired people by example, proving that working together for social justice is possible and achievable.
“Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.” — Jack Layton
Since 2017, ICL and rabble.ca have partnered for the Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellowship, an opportunity for emerging journalists who are engaged in social justice reporting. Over the period of four months, the fellow will develop a feature story with the editor and will work on brief news pieces each week. At a time when journalism has been threatened by market forces, policy barriers, and AI slop, journalistic rigor has never been more needed -- especially by those who want to challenge the status quo.
Our most recent Fellow that we supported was Ashleigh-Rae Thomas, whose time at rabble.ca included producing a deep dive into the impact on First Nations from the Canada/US tariff talks, feminist perspectives on the removal of the Federal Ministry of Women & Gender Equality (and its return), and a look into a grassroots group based in Goderich, Ontario working to resist neo-Nazi activity in their community, among much more.
Many of the emerging journalists supported by this fellowship in past years have gone on to The Hill Times, CBC, and Stanford University, to name a few. This fellowship aims to support those people as much as their work, as the impact lasts long beyond the months that it takes place:
If you want to support journalism for positive change, please make a tax-deductible donation today.
And if you are interested in applying for the fellowship, or know someone who would, please visit rabble.ca/journalismforchange/ to learn more.
