San Lorenzo Latin American Community Centre is looking to fill the following position for its community radio station, CHHA 1610 AM:
Local Journalism Initiative Journalist
Part-time (16 hours) position
Remaining 26 weeks of a 48 Week Term Contract
Bargaining Unit Position covered by a collective agreement
Introduction
San Lorenzo Latin American Community Centre is the CRTC broadcasting licensed owner and operator of the Spanish Language community radio station, CHHA 1610 AM. We were the first dedicated Spanish-language ethnic community radio licensed in Canada on the AM dial. Since 2004, we have broadcast on the 1610 AM band, 18 hours per day, predominantly programs in Spanish with a minor percentage in English, Italian, Tagalog, Portuguese and Punjabi. We are located at 22 Wenderly Drive in the heart of North York, Toronto.
Our audience consists of people of all ages within the Latin American community in the GTHA whose first language is Spanish, many of whom are new immigrants. Our mission is to empower the cohesive development of the Spanish-speaking community of Toronto by providing opportunities for promoting cultural heritage and fostering the understanding and respect for diverse cultural roots through programs to assist and support newcomers to Toronto.
We produce programs designed to meet the needs of our audience, focusing on topics ranging from immigration and settlement to education, health, government programs and services, mixed in with daily local news or international news. These programs provide information to assist the listeners in their daily lives.
Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Description: It’s local and hyperlocal journalism.
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) program was launched by the Community Radio Fund of Canada and is funded by the Government of Canada. The program focuses on diverse local communities that may be underserved in the Canadian news landscape. The goal is to increase the production of community and civic news in those areas and to make that news more accessible across the country. We’re elevating original, local community news.
The selected candidate expects a weekly production of original locally produced cultural news, topics about artists in all categories, and cultural events happening throughout the GTHA. Produced in Spanish and relevant to the Spanish-speaking, Latin American community in Toronto, which is properly sourced and programmed for on-air segments in Spanish and posted to the appropriate national platform for the Government of Canada in English.
Description of the journalist position:
- Bargaining Unit position under a Collective Agreement with Unifor Local 87M.
- Part-time: 16 hours per week
- Title: Journalist
- Grant Term: Remaining 26 weeks of a 48-week term contract position originally begun May 18, 2023, ending April 18, 2024
- Salary: $20.00 per hour
- Original Start Date: May 18, 2023/ Original End Date: April 18, 2024
- Current Start Date to complete 48-week Grant: Monday, November 13, 2023
- Current end date to complete the 48 week Grant: May 10th, 2024
- Expected working hours: Flexible hours to facilitate field reporting, some evenings and weekends.
Job Requirements – Who You Are
● Hold a degree or diploma in Journalism, Communications or Arts from an accredited academic or technical institution OR have equivalent experience in broadcast, print/digital journalism or writing (minimum five years of journalistic/radio experience).
● Excellent radio, interview and communication skills in Spanish and English.
● Excellent writing skills and research. You love storytelling–from the initial pitch to the publication.
● Strong people skills: You are a great listener, speaker and interviewer.
● Deadline-driven and have an eye for detail.
● Knowledge of community and regional concerns or news and a passion for local journalism.
● Strong skills in both a team setting and with independent work.
● Audio production skills and understanding of the radio community environment
● Critical thinking and ability to analyze issues and to remain impartial.
● Social media savvy, for both posting and research purposes
● Provide additional journalistic support as needed at the station level. Examples: hourly news, news research, news writing, social media support, and support on existing programming, etc.
● Multiple weekly social media posts, sharing the published work from Canada info.
Other qualifications/requirements
● Understanding diversity, different perspectives and sensitive/complex issues.
● Desire to drive news and interest in reporting on various topics or sites such as city hall, courthouses, or issues such as affordable housing, employment, environmental concerns, mental health, poverty, Indigenous rights, LGBTQ+ rights, etc.)
● Attend editorial meetings with station and LJI coordinators as needed.
We’re seeking a dynamic, determined journalist who cares about local, community and civic
journalism. If that sounds like you, please apply to Linda McGlade with an email cover letter.
Please reply describing why you want to work at the station and include a current resume
and a few examples of your work.
San Lorenzo Latin American Community Centre encourages applications from a diverse range
of candidates, including (but not limited to) women, BIPOC individuals, those who identify as
LGBTQ+, and people living with disabilities.
Thank you for your interest in the LJI program.
Application closing date: Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 @ 5 pm
Interview date: Thursday, November 9th, 2023
Please Contact: Linda McGlade (Executive Director) at:
Unfortunately, we cannot respond to all applicants. Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.
This position is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada
and
the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative.
