Announcing the 2024 Lieutenant Governor’s BC Journalism Fellowship Recipient: Michele Brunoro’s coverage begins Mon. Jan. 6th on CTV News Vancouver — and watch the episodes below
Watch each/any of the segments of the series by clicking here.
On Mon. Jan. 6th, CTV News Vancouver at 6 pm began an in-depth series into human trafficking in B.C. and beyond.
Veteran CTV News reporter and anchor Michele Brunoro has spent months investigating B.C. connections to the trade in human beings.
Human trafficking is a global crisis with – according to experts – many deep and troubling links to British Columbia. But it’s rarely talked about within the province.
Brunoro’s work is supported by the Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship – an initiative provided in conjunction with the Jack Webster Foundation. The fellowship is dedicated to supporting deep and meaningful investigative reporting.
“In my decades as a journalist, investigating human trafficking has been one of the most difficult and complex issues I’ve ever reported on. What victims have gone through is gut-wrenching and their stories deserve to be told,” Brunoro said.
“I’m so grateful to those who have trusted me to tell their stories – and for the support from this fellowship and from my colleagues at CTV News Vancouver. It’s so important to shine a light on what’s happening,” she said.
Brunoro’s investigation into both sex and labour exploitation took her to communities throughout B.C., Alberta and as far away as Cambodia.
The stories will air on CTV News Vancouver’s local newscasts and they’ll also be published on the CTV News Vancouver digital platforms.
Applications for the 2025 award will be accepted early in 2025.
Michele Brunoro, 2024 BC Lieutenant Governor’s BC Journalism Fellowship recipient
Ms. Brunoro has been awarded funding to produce online stories, in addition to a TV broadcast pieces, focusing on human trafficking in British Columbia. Ms. Brunoro is committed to investigating and sharing these important stories to raise public awareness and give a voice to victims, inform the public and help prevent further exploitation. The project, to be completed in early 2025, includes exploring victim backgrounds, the effectiveness of laws in B.C., preventive efforts, and the work of British Columbians to help victims in other parts of the world. She hopes to speak with both Canadian and foreign victims and provide a B.C. perspective on sex tourism.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to dig more deeply into a complex and often hidden crime where the voices of victims are rarely heard,” Michele Brunoro said. The trade in human beings is a global crisis – and the connection to B.C. is a story that needs to be told.”
Kim Bolan, 2023 BC Lieutenant Governor’s BC Journalism Fellowship recipient’s work about BC gangs and their tentacles around the world is now being published. Read the first of 5 stories here.
Second story in the series here.
Third story in the series here.
Fourth story in the series here.
The series concludes with the fifth instalment of the series here.
Also, check out and read more about the published work of the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship recipient, Francesca Fionda by clicking here.
In the spirit of supporting a healthy democracy with a thriving journalistic community, this fellowship will encourage the development and support of local journalists in British Columbia.
It is often the dream of many journalists to have the time and other resources to produce in-depth coverage of important issues. However, budget cutbacks have become a reality for most newsrooms and deep-dive journalism requires significant resources. The Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship will provide funding to journalists so they can invest the time and other resources in producing excellent in-depth coverage of important topics. The objective is to encourage and enable journalists to go above and beyond their typical level of coverage so that many of the crucial challenges we face today are no longer under-reported and receive deep, complex storytelling to better inform the citizens of British Columbia.
Each year, beginning in 2022, for three years, now with an extension for a fourth year, journalists from various stages of their careers (emerging or experienced) will receive a monetary award to spend up to 4 months to research, produce and publish/broadcast their project supported by a committed publishing/broadcast partner.
Eligibility
- The fellowship is focussed on British Columbia public interest journalism that takes a deep-dive into a subject that is under-reported or may fill a knowledge gap on a matter of significance to the people of British Columbia.
- The topic will be of complexity that requires well substantiated storytelling to support a better-informed public.
- The subject matter must be clearly tied to British Columbia, its people/communities.
- The journalism produced may be of written content for print or digital publishing or may be multimedia such as a video and/or podcast.
- The journalism produced can be in a language other than English.
- While fellowship projects may be published/broadcast in a language other than English, jurors reserve the right to have submissions translated into English.
Who is Eligible?
- B.C.-based journalists with a minimum of three years of experience in various stages of their career are eligible for the fellowship.
- You must be a working journalist, full time or freelance.
- Teams of journalists may also apply.
- You must have a letter of support from a publishing source which confirms to publish/broadcast the work upon its completion.
- If you are a full-time working journalist you must have a letter of support from your employer stating that you may have the requisite time/time-off (2 to 4 months) to work on this project.
The Award
The Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship will offer up to $25,000 each year, over now, 4 years, starting in 2022. Each year an eligible journalist or journalists will receive the funds to spend 2 – 4 months to research, produce/write a deep-dive journalism project of significance to British Columbians and have it published/broadcasted by a committed publishing source.
It is expected that the project be produced and then published/broadcast in the year it is awarded, barring unforeseen exceptional circumstances.
About the Funding of the Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship
The Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship has been made possible with the financial support of private donors through the Government House Foundation and in partnership with the Jack Webster Foundation.
About the Government House Foundation
The Government House Foundation was created to foster the preservation of Government House and its grounds; to enhance its decor, character, maintenance, historical and cultural values; and to provide funding for the Lieutenant Governor’s programs and awards that have a positive impact province-wide. All funds raised are from private donors, not government funds.
Programs that have been funded by Government House Foundation include honours such as the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence and others. Funding also sustains the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Advisory Council, and the youth-focused Stewards of the Future program that encourages ecological awareness.
Costs covered by this Fellowship
Costs that are covered by this fellowship may include:
-travel costs, if necessary and as specified and detailed in the project proposal including the costs of travel (air/train/car), ground transfers/local transportation, baggage costs, hotel costs and a per diem of $50 per day for meals and other incidentals.
-research costs, as specified and detailed in the project proposal and may also include costs to offset any salary loss if time off is required in order to research/write/complete this project.
-production costs, if necessary and as specified and detailed in the project proposal to cover costs for necessary studio or video/audio processing costs in order to complete the project.
How to Apply
Fill out the online application form by clicking here and prepare/provide the following information:
- basic contact information
- a copy of your current resume
- two samples of your published/broadcasted work (print/online, radio/podcast, or TV/video) which demonstrate your journalistic skills
- two letters of recommendation attesting to your professional experience, credentials and ability to conduct independent research that will result in a piece of journalism that is of publish/broadcast quality and contact information from the person writing the letter as these people may be contacted about your application
- if time off is required, a letter from your employer confirming this is permitted (this may be included in a letter of recommendation if such letter is provided by your current employer)
- a letter of intent from a publishing/broadcast source confirming:
- that they will publish/broadcast your work upon completion of the piece.
- that the published/broadcasted work will include a statement that this project/story was “made possible with funding provided by the Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship, in partnership with Government House Foundation and the Jack Webster Foundation.”
- that the published/broadcasted work will be made available for the public to access for a reasonable amount of time online or via other media.
- this information may be included in your letter of recommendation if such letter is provided by your current employer and your employer is committing to the above terms of publication.
- a project proposal, no more than 4 pages long in 10 – 12 point font which includes:
Project Description
Section 1 – Describe your project’s scope and substance including:
- why the subject matter is of relevance to British Columbians,
- why this subject matter may be under-reported or may fill a knowledge gap on a matter of significance to the people of British Columbia,
- why the topic is of complexity that requires well-substantiated deep-dive storytelling to support a better-informed public,
- explain why this project is important, relevant, and worthwhile and describe how this project will help inform the public and what you hope or expect will be an outcome of such work.
- tell us who you are: include your experience, background/skills and why you should be considered for this fellowship.
Section 2 – Describe the parameters of your project including:
- a timeline for this project/how long it will take to have a piece of journalism ready to publish/broadcast (up to a 4-month maximum, however, if there are extenuating circumstances that require more time, please be specific) and expected milestones along the way
- a budget for your project including the number of working days you expect to be necessary, if time off is required, please calculate the number of working days expected x your daily rate and the sum total, plus also include:
- travel costs, which can include the costs of travel (air/train/car), ground transfers/local transportation, baggage costs, hotel costs and a per diem of $50 per day for meals and other incidentals.
- production costs, if necessary to cover studio or video/audio processing costs or other specified production costs in order to complete the project.
- specify any other costs you are requesting to be covered.
Pleases then provide a budget total for your project and note that if your project is selected, this will be the final amount allotted/considered. Should costs overrun your expected budget, further funding will not be possible.
Click here to access the online application form.
Deadlines
Submissions are no longer being accepted for 2024. The 2024 recipient will be announced soon and applications for 2025 will open early in 2025. Check back to this page on this site.
Judging & Criteria
The Jury
The jury for the Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship comprises members of the Jack Webster Foundation’s board of directors, members of the Government House Foundation and members at large who are recognized leaders in their communities who have contributed to advancing the public interest. All decisions of the jury are final.
Board Member, Jack Webster Foundation
Board Member, Jack Webster Foundation
Board Member, Jack Webster Foundation
Government House Foundation Board Member
Chair of the Board of Directors, Canada Post
BBC, Spice Radio Founder
Board member, Jack Webster Foundation & Director, SFU City Program
Judging Criteria
The judges will assess the project proposal for its merits, including:
- the journalist applying for the fellowship, their background, experience;
- the subject matter to be covered, including relevance to British Columbians, the unique nature of the project, its potential impact, importance, and ability to fill a knowledge gap on a matter of significance to the people of British Columbia;
- why the topic’s complexity requires deep-dive storytelling to support a better-informed public;
- the quality and audience reach of media outlet(s) that will publish or broadcast the work;
- the diversity of research materials, interview subjects and sources used for the project;
- does the project represent good value for the funds invested?
[email protected] or call the Jack Webster Foundation at 604-603-4218.
