The Michener Awards Foundation offers  three fellowships, two in support of  investigative reporting and one dedicated to the enrichment of journalism education. Each fellowship is for $40,000 and up to $5,000 in accountable expenses.

Applications will be open online from January 16 to February 21, 2020.

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The Michener – L. Richard O’Hagan Fellowship for Journalism Education ($40,000 plus $5,000 expenses)

The Michener – L. Richard O’Hagan Fellowship for Journalism Education, supported by BMO Financial Group, is dedicated to the advancement and enrichment of the education of Canadian journalists and journalism students.

The fellowship is named for the late L. Richard O’Hagan, distinguished press secretary to Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau and longtime senior vice president at Bank of Montreal.  He began his career as a reporter at the former Toronto Telegram.

Employed and freelance journalists with five years’ experience, media organizations and faculty members of Canadian post-secondary institutions are eligible to apply for a project of up to one year.

The fellowship is open to teams of up to four people (or organizations including journalism schools and media organizations) including at least one journalism educator from a post-secondary institution and one experienced journalist on the team.

The winning project will expand the knowledge of newsroom products, processes and practices. For example, newsroom practices in digital/multiplatform storytelling that capture working journalists workflow to create new teaching materials, or the gamification of ethics cases to engage learners. The funds may be used for, but are not limited to travel and equipment expenses, course releases, work leave, or teaching assistants.

The Michener-Deacon Fellowships for Investigative Reporting ($40,000 plus $5,000 expenses)

The Michener-Deacon Fellowships, supported by TD Bank Group, aim to encourage excellence in public service journalism. They are named after the late Roland Michener and the late Paul Deacon, a senior media executive, former Michener Awards Foundation president and generous benefactor.

The fellowships are intended to encourage excellence in journalism that serves the public interest through improvements in public policy, ethical standards, corporate governance or the lives of Canadians.

Applicants are expected to undertake projects that aspire to the criteria of the annual Michener Award for meritorious public service journalism with its emphasis on identifiable benefits for the public good, improvements in public policy, ethical standards, corporate governance or the lives of Canadians.

The fellowships are available to mature journalists with at least five years’ experience and to a recognized Canadian news organization to complete a reporting project.

Proposals are expected to deal with subjects of direct interest to Canadians. Individual applicants must be Canadian citizens who are active in Canadian journalism. They do not have to be resident in Canada at the time of application.

Application Process for Individuals

Applicants are expected to submit an outline for a proposed project (PDF format). The application should include a letter of reference attesting to the capacity of the candidate to deliver the proposed project and, where applicable, employer support for the candidate. Additional documentation such as undertakings of access or cooperation from third parties, will be welcome. The judges will take into consideration the quality of the candidate’s presentation.

Applicants are advised to answer the following questions:

1. What is the research question that drives your proposed investigation? (What is already known about this topic, and what needs to be found out? Please be as specific as possible.)
2. How is this topic of public importance and what is its potential public impact?
3. What will be the chief sources of information for your investigation? (Please list as many types of sources as apply.)
4. In what way would you describe this project as “investigative” in nature?
5. What is your publication plan?   Ideally, this will include national platforms, along with proof that approaches have been made, and that there is interest and support from a senior editorial person.

Applications must include an expression by an employer or a news organization of intent or, preferably, a commitment to publish or broadcast the completed project. The publication or broadcast must indicate that the project was supported and funded by the Michener Awards Foundation. In addition, the project or a summary must be made available for posting on the website of the Michener Awards Foundation.

Application Process for News Organizations

The application must be filed in the name of a senior news executive. It should outline the proposed project and respond to the following questions:

What is the research question that drives your proposed investigation? (What is already known about this topic, and what needs to be found out? Please be as specific as possible.)

1. How is this topic of public importance and what is its potential public impact?
2. Would the project proceed without the fellowship?
3. What staff will you assign to the project?
4. What will be the chief sources of information for your investigation? (Please list as many types of sources as apply.)
5. In what way would you describe this project as “investigative” in nature?
6. What is your publication plan?

The judges will take into account the size of the news organization and its overall news resources. The publication or broadcast must indicate that the project was funded in part by the Michener Awards Foundation. In addition, the project or a summary must be made available for posting on the website of the Michener Awards Foundation.

Fellowship entry rules

Previous winners

The Award Ceremony

Each year, the Governor General honours laureates at a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Roland Michener’s successors have graciously adopted and maintained a personal interest in the Michener Awards Foundation and its commitment to Canadian journalistic excellence.