JOB POST: Local Journalists
Posted March 2023
San Lorenzo Latin American Community Centre is looking to fill the following two positions for its community radio station, CHHA 1610 AM (www.chha1610am.ca)
Local Journalism Initiative Journalists
One full-time (40 hours per week) and One part-time (16 hours per week) position
48-Week Term Contract
Bargaining Unit Positions covered by a collective agreement
Who We Are
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 GTAH 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 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 candidates expect to have a daily production of original locally produced news and topics in Spanish 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.
Description of the journalist positions:
- Positions: Two Bargaining Unit positions under a Collective Agreement with Unifor Local 87M.
- One full-time: 40 hours per week
- One part-time: 16 hours per week
- Title: Journalist
- Term for Each: 48-week term contract position
- Salary: $20.00 per hour
- Ideal Start Date: April 10, 2023
- End Date: March 10, 2024
- Expected working hours: generally Monday-Friday, 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 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 providing support on existing programming etc.
- Multiple Social media posts a week, 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 a range of 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 looking for dynamic, determined journalists who care 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: Monday, April 3, 2023, @ 5 pm
Interview date for both positions: Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Please Contact Linda McGlade (Executive Director) at:
Unfortunately, we can’t 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.
