2025 Training

Northern Journalism Training Initiative (NJTI)

Community Journalism Training Program is a month-long intensive training program that equips participants with the foundational storytelling theory and multimedia skills, preparing them for careers as journalists, storytellers and media-makers.

2025 TRAINING

Northern Journalism Training Initiative will be in Hay River, NT, from March 10 to April 4, 2025. Apply today to join us for this training!

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The Five Ws

Who

You! – NJTI’s training is open to anyone aged 18 and over, living in the Northwest Territories, who is able to attend in-person to learn new skills and/or enhance existing skills. If you:

Are interested in learning journalism storytelling skills;
Want a job in the journalism and communications industry;
Already work in a newsroom and want to gain a deeper understanding of reporting in northern Indigenous communities;
Regularly interact with journalists for work and want to understand the industry better.

Then NJTI’s training is for you!

What

NJTI delivers hands-on training to equip you with the skills to produce strong stories in print and on-air on the radio and TV. Through a blend of theory, in-class exercises, and field assignments you’ll gain and develop the skills to report for your northern communities.

When

March 10 to April 4 2025

NJTI’s 2025 training will take place over four weeks in the spring. Participants are expected to attend in-person for the entire duration of the training.

Where

Hay River, NT

NJTI is excited to bring this training and its participants to the home of the Kátł'odeeche First Nation and the Hay River area.

Why

Through training in journalism and communications, NJTI is working towards a new normal where Indigenous and northern people place leading roles in telling their own compelling stories, holding leaders to account, and growing wider awareness of the unique and important place of northerners in the world. Your participation in NJTI’s training helps the North self-represent in media, and contributes to a network of northern storytellers eager to share the stories of their communities.

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“Informative and hands-on experience.”

-Participant, 2023 NJTI Pilot Program

Training Outline

NJTI was created by a group of northern media professionals dedicated to consolidating the experiences and expertise of northern and Indigenous media practitioners, with the goal of sharing and expanding that knowledge.

Our vision is that through journalism and communications, we are working towards a new normal where Indigenous and northern people play leading roles in telling their own compelling stories, holding leaders to account, and growing wider awareness of the unique and important place of northerners in the world.

Our training is built around the following ideas:

Journalism in the North

Learn journalism history, theory, and ethics placed within the local context of the North to gain a deeper understanding of the unique communities you report for.

Northern Storytellers

Learn directly from experienced northern storytellers invited as guest speakers throughout the training to share their stories about their craft and careers.

Build and Grow

Produce material to include in your portfolio and, upon completion of the training, explore potential opportunities for work experience in northern media.

For more information, please click here: Training Outline

“I loved the mix of being in the class and out in the field.”

-Julie Beaver, 2023 NJTI Pilot Program

After Your Training

Your NJTI journey doesn’t end after your four weeks of training! You’ll have the opportunity to engage with the northern storytelling network and further develop your skills though:

Alumni Network

NJTI’s network is skilled and deeply caring, and includes training instructors, guest speakers, industry contacts, and past NJTI training participants. This network is available to you after the

training, supporting you through future careers and projects, if you need advice, connections, or mentorship.

Work Experience

If you’re interested in a career in journalism, and participate fully throughout your training, NJTI will support you in seeking work experience in a northern newsroom that suits your passions. The portfolio that you develop during NJTI’s training helps showcase your storytelling skills to possible employers.

“I see myself being able to confidently write stories and come up with ideas [...] it was a great stepping stone and made me want to learn more about the journalism industry.”

-Monica Loreen Dillon, 2023 NJTI Pilot Program

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I apply?

NJTI interviews all applicants in order to get a better understanding of why you want to participate in the program, and what parts of storytelling, journalism and communications you find most interesting. This means, you’ll get to know the instructors and NJTI staff, too, and we’ll be best prepared to develop your skills. These interviews will take place at the start of the new year, after the applications have closed.

What does it cost to attend NJTI training?

NJTI training is free to all participants; you’ll receive skills for life, as well as industry tech and NJTI swag that’s yours to keep. NJTI also provides a cold breakfast and hot lunch during training sessions (5 days per week).

Participants are required to cover their travel costs to and from the training, as well as their living expenses during the training – that means, travel within the host community, accommodations, and food outside of the training sessions.

NJTI will provide participants with coordinating details before the training, to make sure that everyone understands the approximate costs of living in the host community, and possible options and solutions.

What does a day look like during the training?

NJTI’s Community Journalism Training is meant to be fun and engaging, as well as instructive. Every day will be different, sometimes with participants pitching stories based on their interests, sometimes with guest speakers visiting to teach you about the journalism and communication industry, sometimes heading out into the community to conduct interviews – always working on developing your skills as a storyteller.

What are the training assignments like?

NJTI asks you to complete four assignments throughout the training, each one working on your storytelling skills, and each producing material which you can include in your portfolio. This is useful to be able to show newsrooms your reporting and technical abilities. Assignments might include recording three interviews with members of the public, writing a 30-second script for radio, or creating a photo essay.

We don’t expect every participant to master every skill during the training – instead, we want you to have experienced a variety of options so that after the training, you can pursue the aspects of journalism that interest you most.

How do I qualify for work experience?

NJTI is in contact with northern newsrooms before the training begins, establishing possible work opportunities for participants – the number of opportunities depends on the capacity of the newsrooms, so work experience is not a guaranteed outcome of the training. However, if NJTI’s instructors see that you’re a motivated storyteller, that you’re eager to learn and grow your skills, and that you have completed all of your assignments, NJTI will work to connect you with an opportunity that suits you.

What if I have more questions?

Reach out to us! You can contact our Project Coordinator, Mary Buckland, at coordinator@njti.ca for more information about the upcoming training.

How do I apply?

You can apply here! Applications are due before January 3, 2025, at 5 pm.

Questions? Email us connect@njti.ca